NHS statistics indicate a staggering 352% rise in the number of individuals hospitalized due to the flu in comparison to the same period last year.
Concerns within the NHS regarding a possible ‘quad-demic’ are escalated, as the daily count of flu patients in hospitals reached 1,099 last week, a stark increase from just 243 at this time last year.
It is important to note that during the previous flu season, peak hospitalizations occurred significantly later, at the end of January.
Recent weekly data reveals that the NHS is entering winter under considerable strain. More than a thousand beds were filled each day last week with adults suffering from gastrointestinal ailments and norovirus, peaking at 1,160 on Sunday. This represents a contrast to an average of 591 daily hospital cases observed at this point last year.
Additionally, the average number of COVID patients in hospital beds each day last week was 1,390, alongside 142 children hospitalized daily with RSV, and 756 patients suffering from norovirus—an 86% surge from a year prior.
The flu vaccine
Over 27 million vaccinations have been administered, with England’s chief medical officer among those advocating for individuals to receive the vaccine.
With cases “increasing swiftly,” children of school age are particularly affected. Nearly 17% of tests among those aged five to 14 are positive for flu—up from 11.5% the previous week.
NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, remarked: “The NHS is experiencing unprecedented busyness as we approach winter, with a significant uptick in hospitalizations due to flu and norovirus—yet we are still merely at the beginning of December, thus we anticipate an increase in pressure and a long winter ahead.”
Read more: What is the ‘quad-demic’ – and how can you protect yourself?
“For some time, there have been alerts regarding a ‘tripledemic’ involving COVID, flu, and RSV this winter, but with the rise in norovirus cases, this may quickly evolve into a ‘quad-demic’. Therefore, it is crucial that those who have yet to receive their COVID or flu vaccinations heed the advice of millions of others and seek protection as promptly as possible.”
