Early flu season warning as UK virus levels hit four-year high
- Data published by the Health Security Agency showed virus activity increased throughout September to levels above the previous four years, as NHS England medical director Professor Frankie Swords warned hospital admissions are the highest she can recall for this time of year.
- Increasing flu trends since August, driven primarily by young adults, add to early winter pressures after NHS hospitals recorded a 95 per cent occupancy rate in September; flu swab positivity also increased from 5.0 per cent to 6.5 per cent.
- More than 3.9 million people have received flu jabs since September, and UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Jamie Lopez Bernal warned: "Flu levels are increasing with the possibility of an early flu season so now is the time for those eligible to get vaccinated."
- Eligible individuals can book free vaccine appointments through the NHS App to protect against circulating flu and COVID-19 strains, while COVID-19 test positivity rose to 9.1 per cent though cases remain low.
- Vaccines protect against influenza A subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 plus influenza B; separately, the Government announced a 33.2 million pound investment into eight research projects, aiming to protect against future pandemic threats including Ebola.
53 Articles
53 Articles
Early flu season: Why a high positive test rate is not a severe year warning
The season has arrived with unusual urgency. In the United States, where flu activity typically begins to crest in late October or November, laboratory data now shows a clear upward trajectory as of late September. The CDC reports that the proportion of positive influenza tests in clinical laboratories reached 3.4%, a figure nearly seven times higher than the 0.5% recorded during the same period last year. This is not a prediction of a severe wi…
Flu striking earlier than usual in England as health officials warn of 'ominous' winter
Influenza infections are appearing earlier than anticipated across England this year, with health surveillance data revealing an unusual pattern of autumn activity. The UK Health Security Agency has determined September recorded greater flu activity than during the corresponding timeframe in each of the previous four winter seasons.Although overall flu prevalence remains at modest levels, multiple indicators point towards an upward trajectory th…
Noting the increase in cases of respiratory viral infections in the community, Iran University of Medical Sciences, the vice president of therapy emphasized the continued observance of health advice, especially by high-risk groups.
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