<p>Doing at least two-and-a-half hours a week of activity that leads to sweating or hard breathing reduces flu or flu-like illness by around 10 percent, says expert.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Taking part in vigorous exercise such as running, rapid cycling or rugby cuts the risk of catching flu.<br /><br />More gentle pursuits such as walking or light jogging were found to have little effect.<br />Experts at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine examined data from its online flu study, Flusurvey.<br /><br />They found overall flu levels appear to be down on last year, with the flu season apparently curbed by a lack of illness among children and young people, reports mirror.co.uk.<br /><br />Over the winter flu season, 4.7 percent of people were believed to have flu compared to 6 percent the previous year.<br /><br />Some 5 percent of children were reported to have flu, compared to almost 8 percent the previous year.<br /><br />More than 4,800 people took part in this year's Flusurvey so far.<br /><br />Alma Adler, research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "We need to treat this result cautiously as these are preliminary findings. However they are consistent with findings for other conditions and really show the health benefits of exercise."</p>
<p>Doing at least two-and-a-half hours a week of activity that leads to sweating or hard breathing reduces flu or flu-like illness by around 10 percent, says expert.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Taking part in vigorous exercise such as running, rapid cycling or rugby cuts the risk of catching flu.<br /><br />More gentle pursuits such as walking or light jogging were found to have little effect.<br />Experts at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine examined data from its online flu study, Flusurvey.<br /><br />They found overall flu levels appear to be down on last year, with the flu season apparently curbed by a lack of illness among children and young people, reports mirror.co.uk.<br /><br />Over the winter flu season, 4.7 percent of people were believed to have flu compared to 6 percent the previous year.<br /><br />Some 5 percent of children were reported to have flu, compared to almost 8 percent the previous year.<br /><br />More than 4,800 people took part in this year's Flusurvey so far.<br /><br />Alma Adler, research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "We need to treat this result cautiously as these are preliminary findings. However they are consistent with findings for other conditions and really show the health benefits of exercise."</p>