Most suffered from mild illness, including conjunctivitis, or pink eye, and upper respiratory irritation.

The chances of a white Christmas are looking increasingly slim with mild - and largely dry - weather expected to arrive across the UK in time for the big day.

Forecasting snow accurately is notoriously difficult in the UK because we are an island nation usually influenced by mild Atlantic air.

Up to 20 of the country's 29 districts have experienced "mild to severe damages" affecting about 35,000 people, a statement from the disaster management department said.

It is similar to chronic fatigue syndrome and can range from mild to debilitating.