Published • loading... • Updated
Early flu season warning as UK virus levels hit four-year high
Officials say September flu swab positivity rose from 5.0% to 6.5% and hospital admissions climbed, with young adults driving the increase.
- 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.
Insights by Ground AI
131 Articles
131 Articles
Flu season is arriving months early. Here's where it's spreading
The flu has begun hitting parts of the U.S. earlier this year compared to the last five years, first picking up in late August to early September, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
·Tucson, United States
Read Full Article
Flu season gets an early start
The flu has started hitting parts of the U.S. earlier this year, first picking up in late August to early September. It's a few months earlier than usual according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but it remains within expected seasonal variation.
·Boston, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources131
Leaning Left37Leaning Right6Center75Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
L 31%
C 64%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
