The NHS has been put on alert for the “worst outbreak of winter flu in years” after hospital admissions for the virus increased by 40 percent in the space of a week.
For the first time since the pandemic began, people are being admitted to the hospital with influenza at a higher rate than with Covid, although both are increasing.
According to NHS data, the flu admission rate stood at 6.8 per 100,000 people in the week to December 11, almost double the 3.9 per 100,000 the week before, while for the same week there were 6.6 per 100,000 due to covid.
Experts warn that increased mixing indoors due to cold weather is causing more people to contract illnesses like flu, covid and other winter viruses.
In the image: hospital patient (archive photo). The flu admission rate stood at 6.8 per 100,000 people in the week to December 11, compared with 6.6 per 100,000 for Covid-19
While both are increasing, the number of flu cases leading to hospitalization has increased more than eight times what would be expected at this time of year.
There have been suggestions that if the trend continues, the UK could suffer its worst outbreak of flu since the winter of 2017/18, which killed 30,000 people, the Telegraph reports,
It couldn’t have come at a worse time for the NHS, which is facing a record backlog: as of October this year, more than seven million people were known to be waiting for treatment, and it is also dealing with an outbreak of strep A.
The situation could worsen if nurses and ambulance staff go on strike amid protracted disputes with the government over pay and conditions.
On Thursday, around 100,000 nurses walked off their jobs, with another strike planned for Tuesday, December 20, with more action expected to take place in the New Year if no deal is reached.
The figures are the latest sign that the flu is becoming more and more prevalent among the population.
The figures are the latest sign that the flu is becoming more and more prevalent among the population.
Hospital admissions of people with flu are now at a higher rate than at any week in the previous four winters, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Admissions are highest among those 85 and older, at 23.1 per 100,000 people, a weekly increase from 10.7.
There has been an equally large jump in the rate among children four and under, from 8.4 to 20.7.
All two and three year olds are eligible for a nasal spray flu vaccine, offered by local GPs.
But only 37.4 percent of two-year-olds have received the vaccine so far, along with 39.5 percent of three-year-olds, well below the acceptance achieved to this point in previous winters. .
In total, around 33 million people in England can get a free flu shot this year, including everyone over 50, all primary-age children and some secondary-age children.
The vaccine is also being offered to pregnant women, people in nursing homes, frontline health and social care workers, caregivers, people ages 6-49 with a specific health condition, and household contacts of people with weakened immune systems.
Dr Conall Watson, UKHSA Consultant Epidemiologist, said: “Influenza is now circulating widely and we have seen a sharp increase in the rate of hospitalizations for influenza this week, particularly among those under five and over 85 years of age. .
“Admissions are now at the highest point since the 2017/18 season and we expect the number of cases to continue to increase as we move into the winter.
‘The flu vaccine offers the best protection against serious illness and it is not too late for all eligible people to receive it.
“Acceptance is particularly low in two- and three-year-olds, so if your child is eligible, take him up on the offer.”
Dr Jamie López Bernal, consultant epidemiologist for immunization and countermeasures at UKHSA, said: “We are seeing increases in flu, covid and other winter viruses as people mix more indoors this winter.”
‘Covid hospitalizations are higher in the older age groups, so it is particularly important that everyone who is eligible continue to come forward to accept their booster shot.
“If you are not feeling well this winter, please try to stay home and avoid contact with others, especially the elderly or vulnerable, this will help stop the spread of infection.”
It comes a day after it was revealed that the NHS recorded its worst week ever for ambulance deliveries with more than 12,500 patients picked up by 999 teams who waited at least an hour before being transferred to hospital staff last week. Just over a third were forced to wait at least half an hour.
The NHS has recorded its worst week for ambulance deliveries, official data revealed today
NHS data also showed more than 706,000 non-emergency 111 calls were taken last week, up 60 per cent from the more than 440,000 recorded the previous week.
More than 12,500 patients picked up by 999 teams waited at least an hour before being transferred to hospital staff last week.
Backlogs are higher than at any point in recent winters, with lawmakers criticizing the government for “failing patients on a monstrous scale.”
The figures, ahead of the biggest ambulance strikes in 30 years that start next week, also showed NHS staff dealing with a huge increase in 111 calls triggered by the Strep A panic.
NHS bosses claimed the ongoing winter virus surge was also behind the “big spike” in demand for the service.
The figures, which come from weekly situation reports tracking the state of the health service over the winter, are for the week ending December 11.
The fallout from today’s nursing strike, in which up to 100,000 doctors took the picket line, will not be seen until next week’s data update.
Ambulance drivers in England and Wales will follow suit next week, while call handlers will also go on strike, stoking fears that the problems for the NHS will only get worse.
