Flu: who is at risk and what precautions are recommended?
At least a dozen hospitals have reported critical incidents in the past week as increases in flu admissions and respiratory illnesses have led to “exceptionally high demands.”
Hospitals in Birmingham, Cornwall, Hampshire, Liverpool, Northamptonshire and Plymouth are among those affected, with figures showing the number of people admitted to hospital with flu in England quadrupled last month.
“I don’t think it helped that the flu vaccine was offered to some groups later this year compared to last year,” said Dr Simon Williams, a behavioral scientist and public health researcher at Swansea University. “However, it is not unprecedented for there to be a spike in flu cases in December: we saw something similar in 2022.”
Does flu cause more problems than normal at this time of year?
The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows flu levels and hospital admissions are higher than this time last year. However, the latest figures indicate that flu cases may have peaked, although activity is still at high levels.
NHS England said that in the week ending January 9 there were an average of 5,408 patients per day in hospital with flu, including 256 in intensive care – 3.5 times more than the same week last year (1,548 in the week ending on January 7, 2024). The overall weekly hospital admission rate for the flu week ending January 9 in England remained stable at 13.41 per 100,000, compared with 13.90 per 100,000 in the previous week.
Public Health Scotland reported that flu-related hospital admissions, which had reached a record high of 1,596 in the last week of 2024, had fallen by 36% to 1,021 in the week ending January 9. Public Health Wales reported that there were 628 clinical cases of confirmed flu in the past week, 45 of which were in intensive care. The Northern Ireland Public Health Service reported 702 unique identified influenza episodes, up from 924 the week before.
How do you know if it’s the flu or Covid?
Covid is at low levels so there is no particular reason to think you have Covid rather than flu if you feel unwell. According to the latest figures, Covid activity remained stable on most indicators and was circulating at basic levels. In England, for example, the overall weekly hospital admission rate for Covid was stable at 1.39 per 100,000 last week, compared to 1.32 per 100,000 the week before.
But there’s no way to definitively confirm a diagnosis based on symptoms alone, without testing. This is because many of the symptoms are the same or similar, according to NHS England.
Should you test for Covid if you feel like you have the flu?
Testing is generally recommended if it would change your course of action, such as if you are visiting an elderly relative or an immunocompromised person. It really depends on whether you take action depending on the outcome of the test.
Will Covid tests work if left in a drawer for a long time?
If the tests are stored past the expiration date, they may not work because the antibodies used to detect the virus may break down. Depending on when the test was conducted, it may also be less tailored to the types of Covid-19 in circulation.
When should you go to your doctor?
The advice is that you should go to your doctor if you are short of breath more than normal, have pain when breathing in or coughing, feel nauseous or are ill, cough up blood (hemoptysis), have palpitations, pass less urine than normal – This can be a are a sign of dehydration – or have a very high or low temperature. If your GP practice is closed, call 111.
You should call 999 or go to A&E if you have severe chest pain in the center of your chest that doesn’t go away – it may feel like pressure, tightness or squeezing; you have pain that radiates to your arms, back, neck and jaw; you feel sleepier than usual or find it harder to wake up; or your lips or skin become very pale, blue or gray – if you have brown or black skin this is easier to see on the palms of your hands.
How important is it to rest after this flu?
NHS websites state that flu symptoms usually develop one to three days after infection. Most people will feel better within a week, although you may have a persistent cough and feel very tired for a few weeks. They recommend that patients get enough sleep, stay warm, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to lower temperatures and treat aches and pains, and stay away from work or school until you feel better. feels.
Who is most affected by flu?
Data from UKHSA shows that people aged between five and 14 are most likely to test positive for flu, but it is mainly older people who are treated with the virus in hospital. Last week, hospitalization rates for flu were highest among people aged 85 and older.
What can people do to protect themselves?
Prof Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser at UKHSA, has stressed the importance of limiting contact with others, especially vulnerable people, if symptoms develop. “If you have complaints and have to go out, our advice remains that you wear a face mask. Regular hand washing and using and disposing of tissues in waste bins can reduce the spread of respiratory diseases.”
Is it too late to get a flu shot?
For those eligible for an NHS flu jab, the last date is March 31, 2025.
NHS flu jabs are available to people who are aged 65 or over, have certain long-term health conditions, are pregnant, live in a care home, are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person or receive carer’s allowance, live with someone who has a weakened immune system, children aged 2 or 3 years old on 31 August 2024, school-age children (reception to year 11), frontline health workers and social workers.