The UK is on track to face the worst year ever for flu amid spiralling infections, the country’s top doctor warned today.
Surveillance programmes that monitor the nation’s outbreak suggest flu hospital admissions in England have already surpassed last year’s peak and are running at their highest level so far this winter.
Latest figures show almost 3,000 patients have been hospitalised with the virus. Of these, over 150 were in critical care.
But NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said the worst of Britain’s tidal wave is still ‘yet to come’.
A ‘quad-demic’ of four winter illnesses — flu, Covid, norovirus and cold-like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — is also continuing to pile pressure on a stretched health service, he added.
Experts fear the surge in infections will continue to pick up pace in the coming days as a result of more people socialising indoors over the Christmas and the New Year period.
They have urged people with coughs, sore throats or a runny nose to limit contact with vulnerable groups — such as the elderly, pregnant women and those with underlying conditions — over fears they could become seriously unwell with the virus.
Sir Stephen said: ‘The winter flu season has not only hit the NHS early this year, but it is potentially on track to be one of the worst we have ever seen, as the “quad-demic” continues to increase pressure across services.
NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said the worst of Britain’s tidal flu wave is still ‘yet to come’
‘Frontline NHS staff are currently under significant pressure — and as families and friends have gathered over the festive period and to celebrate the new year, we expect the peak of seasonal viruses is yet to come.
‘Firstly, I’d like to thank NHS staff — despite huge demand, they continue to work tirelessly to keep patients safe and provide them with the best possible care.
‘And secondly I would like to remind the public that community services like GPs and pharmacies are open as usual for help and advice today and on Thursday and Friday.
‘Anyone who needs medical support should continue to use services as normal — 999 and A&E only in an emergency, and for other urgent health needs, use NHS 111 or 111 online.’
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which collects data for England, has paused its updates over Christmas, meaning the impact of festive gatherings will not be clear until early in the new year.
According to the latest weekly NHS figures, RSV — which is most common in infants and young children — was 25 per cent higher in the week ending December 17, than the previous year.
Rates of the winter vomiting bug norovirus, meanwhile, are also almost 25 per cent higher than expected for this time of year.
Some hospitals have begun to limit visiting hours and have imposed mask mandates over fears of rising ‘quad-demic’ cases.
Norovirus can appear similar the symptoms of Covid, with both viruses causing chills, fever and headaches
NHS trusts in Cambridge, Essex and Bedfordshire introduced new restrictions on Monday to limit the risk of infection to patients, staff and the public.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and the Welsh Ambulance Service have also declared critical incidents due to the huge increase in demand for care.
On Saturday, NHS Dumfries and Galloway also introduced temporary restrictions to visiting due a ‘high volume of respiratory illness’ in the community.
Despite the rising pressures, latest official data shows just under one in four frontline healthcare workers in England have had the flu vaccine this year.
The Government report found overall just 24.3 per cent of staff responsible for direct patient care have been vaccinated for influenza.
Analysis of data showed vaccination rates are lower in every staff group, including NHS hospital staff, paramedics and GPs this year than in the 2023 season.
Public health specialists say those with even mild cold symptoms should consider self-isolating as they may unknowingly have the virus which can be fatal to older people.
Along with avoiding family gatherings, they have recommended mask-wearing and social distancing in a bid to avoid passing on the bug.
Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases from the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: ‘If you are ill with flu you should stay away from other people for the first three days and preferably for the first week.
‘This is especially important if they are elderly or suffer from medical conditions that make them more at risk.’
Flu symptoms include a fever, sore throat, muscle aches and a cough, however Prof Hunter warned many people simply suffer something similar to a common cold.
About a fifth of those infected with flu have no symptoms but can still pass the bug on to others, he added.
Professor Lawrence Young, virologist from the University of Warwick, also urged people with potential flu symptoms to consider lockdown-style measures.
‘If you have flu-like symptoms, it’s really important to think about limiting your contact with other people particularly those who are clinically vulnerable to chest infections,’ he said.
He added this was important to consider even if vulnerable people had received a flu jab as, like any vaccine, it cannot offer 100 per cent protection from serious illness.
Flu, also called influenza, is responsible for about 40,000 hospitalisations and more than 10,000 deaths in the UK every year, though this can be higher in bad years.
