UNITED KINGDOM — We could be in for a bad flu season. In the UK, researchers are seeing flu cases early and are three times higher than this same time last year.

In Japan, there are so many cases that schools have closed.

There is a new strain, H3N2, and it seems to spread easily among children and possibly the elderly.

Even though the vaccination is not a match for that strain, doctors say it will still offer some protection and keep you from getting as sick as if you catch the flu.