FLU cases have soared by 25 per cent in just a week – with 15 deaths and hundreds left in intensive care.
New figures out today show that 472 people went to hospital with the highly contagious virus last week.
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Of those, 124 ended up in intensive care or high dependency units for flu, up from 80 the week before.
The latest weekly Public Health England (PHE) data shows there were eight deaths in intensive care units in the week to December 8 when flu was a factor.
It’s the highest number this season and takes the total death toll for the UK to 15 over a nine-week period.
There were also more than 8,000 GP appointments for people with flu-like symptoms – in the previous week there was 1,500.
PHE data shows the hospitalisation rate from flu is at “moderate intensity levels”, with a rate of 5.06 per 100,000 compared to 4.01 the week before.
Get vaccinated
They also revealed that more than two-thirds of toddlers have not had their flu vaccine.
Children aged two and three are eligible for the nasal spray flu vaccine via their GP surgery.
The latest figures show 28.9 per cent of two-year-olds have had the vaccine, while the figure is at 28.1 per cent for three-year-olds.
The proportion of people seeing their GP because of flu has also risen, with the highest rates seen in children aged one to 14.
Calls rise
Calls to NHS 111 regarding cold and flu also continue to increase and stand at “medium intensity levels”, with “highest activity noted in the five to 14 years age group and in the north of England”.
The report said: “Cough calls and difficulty breathing continued to increase, particularly in young children aged under one.”
A&E attendances for bronchiolitis also showed a further increase in children aged under one.
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.”
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
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal
For the equivalent week last year, ending December 9, there were 50 cases of flu confirmed in hospitals and 37 new admissions to intensive care or high dependency units.
PHE data shows the hospitalisation rate from flu was “below baseline threshold levels”, with a rate of 0.54 per 100,000 people in England.
At this point last year, 39.1 per cent of two-year-olds and 40.2 per cent of three-year-olds had received their flu vaccination.
Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Almost 8,000 patients went to their GP with influenza-like illness last week (December 2-8) – up 1,500 on the previous week, according to data from the RCGP’s Research and Surveillance Centre.
What are the symptoms of flu?
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
- a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- nausea and being sick
The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active.
The flu vaccine reduces the risk of catching flu, as well as spreading it to others.
It’s more effective to get the vaccine before the start of the flu season (December to March).
Source: NHS UK
“Winter is certainly upon us and our Research and Surveillance Centre figures show rates of influenza-like illness are higher than the five-year average, although still within levels that would be expected at this time of year.
“The rise is particularly notable in patients aged five to 14 and in practices in the north of England.”
He added: “It is not too late to get a flu jab. This is the best protection we have against the flu and we urge all patients in at-risk groups to get vaccinated and for parents of young children to arrange this for their children as soon as possible.”
