The number of patients hospitalised with the flu this winter is eight times higher than it was last year, figures show.
An early start to the season has left 2,092 people in England needing treatment for the virus so far in 2019.
By comparison, there were just 256 hospital admissions with influenza at the same point 12 months ago.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it was ‘wrong’ for any frontline NHS staff to not be vaccinated against the flu, with figures showing four out of ten of them still did not have the jab.
The virus has killed 23 people so far this winter, more than double the amount last year, when it struck down nine. Eight people were succumbed to the virus last week alone.
And the number of patients rushed into intensive care with life threatening symptoms caused by the flu has trebled year-on-year.
Government data released today revealed there have been 540 people treated in ICU in 2019, compared to 169 a year ago.
Cases of the flu virus in Wales almost trebled in the space of a week – rising from 232 to 690, according to Public Health England.
The number of patients hospitalised with the flu this winter is eight times higher than it was last year, figures show (stock)
An early start to the flu season has left 2,092 needing treatment for influenza or flu-like symptoms so far in 2019
The spike means Wales now has ‘moderate’ levels of flu activity – the third highest of five categories.
Tests show up to four fifths of people who have caught influenza already this winter have been struck down by a H3N2 strain.
Samples also show most of those strains this winter are similar to the ‘Kansas’ type, which this year’s jab protects against.
It comes as hundreds of thousands of children remain unprotected against the flu despite officials urging parents to get youngsters vaccinated.
Just one in six (16.7 per cent) children between the ages of four and 11 had a flu vaccine by the end of October, down from 19.7 per cent at the same time last year.
Spikes in flu are one of the main reasons A&E departments become so crowded in the winter and last week’s figures could be an unwelcome omen for hospitals around the country.
Almost 12,000 patients across Britain went to their GP last week (Dec 9 -15) complaining of influenza-like symptoms, such as a fever, aching muscles and headaches.
This is 25 per cent higher than the week before, where 9,500 – including almost 8,000 from England – sought advice for similar symptoms.
Scotland made up 1,033 of doctor visits in the last week, while in Wales and Northern Ireland there were 690 and 467, respectively.
PHE said Northern Ireland and Wales were experiencing ‘moderate’ levels of flu activity – the third highest of five categories. The nations are suffering the most cases per capita.
But the flu is deemed less of a problem in Scotland which, despite experiencing more cases, has a much larger population.
The virus is circulating at low levels across England but is rising quickly, the Government body said.
This year’s sharp rise comes after children’s flu vaccines were hit by delays of up to a month because of a pharmaceutical company’s testing problem.
In September and October, the Government warned schools they would have to reschedule some of their vaccination sessions because of a drug shortage.
Although this was resolved, the average vaccination rate for primary school children was just 16.7 per cent by October 31.
Schools were hit with 56 outbreaks last week – 30 of which were confirmed to be flu.
More toddlers than schoolchildren have had the nasal flu spray, but rates are still low – 28.5 per cent of two and three-year-olds were vaccinated by the start of November.
As well as schools, dozens of outbreaks have been reported in care homes (86), while there were seven in hospitals.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, head of flu at PHE, said: ‘Flu season has now started and so it’s really important that people get their flu vaccine as soon as possible to ensure they are protected against this potentially very serious illness.
‘The initial evidence suggests the vaccine is a good match for the main strain of flu that is circulating.
‘Flu is very infectious and spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
‘To reduce the risk of spreading flu, use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often with warm water and soap, and bin used tissues as quickly as possible. Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.’
