Flu hospitalisations in England have jumped by more than 40% in a week as they overtake Covid admissions for the first time since the start of the pandemic and the NHS braces for one of the worst outbreaks of the virus in recent years. The Telegraph has the story.
Analysis of NHS data by the Telegraph shows that rates are more than eight times higher than expected at this time of year.
On the current trajectory, admissions next week could pass the peak of the 2017-18 outbreak – one of the worst of the last 20 years – which led to nearly 30,000 deaths.
Flu hospitalisations are so high that they have overtaken Covid admissions for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
Data show that they are now 6.76 per 100,000 people in England, compared with 6.61 per 100,000 for Covid.
The number of flu patients increased from 966 to 1,377 in the past week – substantially above the 22 recorded this time last year…
Dr. Conall Watson, a consultant epidemiologist at the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “Flu is now circulating widely and we have seen a sharp rise in the rate of hospitalisations for flu this week, particularly among the under-fives and over-85s. Admissions are now at the highest point since the 2017-18 season, and we are expecting case numbers to continue increasing as we move further into winter.”
This is not going to help the NHS crisis.
No calls for lockdowns, masks and restrictions yet…
Worth reading in full.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.