Barely a day after R&B singer Rihanna feebly walked out of a hospital in Sweden where she was admitted with a bout of influenza last month, scientists have warned that a menacing flu strain might hit Great Britain posing the risk of a deadly mutation, report two independent news sources.

According to the Daily Mail, Rihanna was spotted coming out of a hospital in Sweden on Tuesday, looking weak and unwell. On Monday she was hospitalised and given an intravenous drip for emergency influenza treatment. The Barbadian singer later apologised to her fans on Twitter, saying that she was “disappointed” not to be able to perform for them in Malmo, the Daily Mail notes.

Meanwhile, British tabloid the Daily Express reports that scientists have expressed their concerns over the possibility of a flu outbreak that might have catastrophic consequences on public health in the UK and worldwide. Quoting contagious disease expert Dr Peter Hotez, the tabloid says the newfound flu virus is “one of the biggest biological threats of our time”. It may be noted that flu treatment can be problematic when the virus mutates.

Urging primary care units and emergency medical facilities in the country to remain on their toes to swiftly tackle the predicted onset of a flu endemic, Dr Hotez lauded the scientists who had discovered the double-flu infection.

The news of a novel flu virus comes when Great Britain, along with many other countries in Europe, is calling the shots to beat influenza and minimise the number of deaths, the Daily Express observes, reminding that flu accounted for more than 600 lives in the UK last year. We at 121doc had earlier covered a number of stories to alert people about the likelihood of a flu crisis this year, referring to various initiatives of the NHS and the government to raise mass awareness about flu prevention and treatment.