Keep at dwelling in case you have flu signs, specialists urge amid fears of second surge | Flu

Folks ought to keep dwelling over the Christmas interval if they’ve signs of flu or Covid, specialists have warned amid fears flu instances may see a second surge within the New 12 months.

Flu ranges look like plateauing, however it’s too quickly to say whether or not they have peaked, based on the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA). Because of this, specialists are urging folks to clean their arms recurrently, be certain that indoor areas are nicely ventilated, get a free vaccination if eligible, and keep dwelling the place doable if signs develop.

A median of three,140 folks had been in hospital with flu every day by the tip of final week, a rise of 18% in contrast with the earlier week. On the identical time final yr, a mean of two,629 sufferers had been in hospital, whereas in 2023 the quantity was 648.

Nonetheless, flu instances have begun to gradual in some elements of the nation, though the NHS has emphasised that the service is “not out of the woods”.

Within the north-west of England, hospital instances of flu fell by 4% over the previous week. However flu instances continued to rise in different elements of England, with sufferers in hospital up 39% within the east of England and 40% within the south-west.

The figures come as resident medical doctors in England start the second of 5 days of strikes over a pay dispute.

Prof Meghana Pandit, the NHS England nationwide medical director, mentioned though flu instances weren’t rising as shortly as feared throughout some elements of the nation, the NHS was “nowhere close to out of the woods but”.

“Mixed with the affect of strikes, a stream of winter viruses means many hospitals can be on excessive alert within the days forward,” Pandit mentioned. “But it surely stays important that folks proceed to come back ahead for NHS care as regular.”

Important care beds had been occupied by 128 flu sufferers throughout England final week, up from 106 the week earlier than.

A median of 427 hospital beds had been additionally crammed every day final week by sufferers with diarrhoea, vomiting or norovirus-like signs, a rise of greater than a fifth (21%) in contrast with final week.

Just below a 3rd (28%) of sufferers arriving by ambulance at hospitals in England final week waited a minimum of half-hour earlier than coming into A&E, down from 32% the earlier week.

Separate figures revealed by the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) present that hospital admission charges for flu in England have plateaued, at 10.3 admissions per 100,000 final week, in contrast with 10.2 the earlier week.

Folks over 85 had the very best admission fee at 64.6 per 100,000 final week, up from 58.1 the earlier week, whereas the speed for 75 to 84-year-olds was 31.4, broadly unchanged from 31.6.

For youngsters underneath 5, the speed was 27.3 per 100,000, up from 20.3.

Dr Alex Allen, a advisor epidemiologist on the UKHSA, mentioned: “With Christmas simply across the nook, it’s reassuring to see that flu ranges at the moment are beginning to stabilise, however flu is notoriously unpredictable and might bounce again and peak a second time within the new yr, and so we’re urging folks to proceed taking smart steps over the festive interval to assist cease the unfold.”

The well being secretary, Wes Streeting, mentioned: “Flu continues to place important pressure on the NHS, with report numbers of sufferers in hospital, and frontline providers remaining underneath monumental strain. I’m interesting to the general public to guard your self and your family members by getting your flu jab.

“The British Medical Affiliation’s regrettable choice to pursue strike motion at this vital second is piling on the strain, however the NHS workforce has responded brilliantly to maintain the present on the street. Our total focus is on maintaining sufferers protected by the strikes and this peak interval for the NHS.”