Virologists are urging people to be prepared ahead of this year's flu season

It comes as influenza returned in force last year, swamping hospitals with the highest numbers seen in a decade.

They're warning New Zealanders should be braced for a flu season potentially just as bad as last year's

Otago University Virology Professor, Lance Jennings says the best way to fight the virus is to be vaccinated.

He says hospitalisations from the virus is high in the elderly and the very young.

Te Whatu Ora-Health says it's introducing a range of measures to manage the flu, including a new programme aiming to spread medical resources more widely across the health system.