NHS issues urgent ‘superflu’ warning as cases rocket and schools close | UK | News
As ‘super flu’ spreads rapidly across the UK, the NHS has urged people to get their vaccinations. The number of hospitalizations in London has tripled and schools across the country are closing as a result of the spread.
The health service said it was ‘preparing for an unprecedented flu wave this winter’. Last week, an average of 259 people were in hospital beds with flu in the capital; a sharp increase compared to a daily average of 89 during the same period last year. The London Ambulance Service says it is dealing with an unusually high number of calls – around 7,500 a day on the last weekend of November – at levels it would normally expect on New Year’s Eve, the busiest day of the year.
This comes as schools are closed due to increasing flu outbreaks that are causing hundreds of students to fall ill at the same time. School principals say they have had to take measures to prevent the spread of what has been dubbed a “flu wave” in recent weeks, leading to a sharp increase in student absences.
Some schools closed for a few days to do deep cleaning, while others made significant changes, such as canceling singing at assemblies.
Previously, St Martin’s School in Caerphilly was forced to close after 250 students and staff fell ill. Headteacher Lee Jarvis told parents and carers in an email that the school was experiencing a “significant outbreak of flu-like illness”.
Congleton High School wrote on social media that following discussions with UK Safeguarding North West Health Protection Team and Infection Control Team they had to close on 26 and 27 November to allow for a deep clean of the facility.
Last month was the busiest November ever recorded for the London Ambulance Service; 999 call handlers received 192,600 calls; that number was more than 13,000 above the total for the same month last year.
Dr Chris Streather, Chief Medical Director of the NHS in London, said: “The NHS has prepared for winter earlier than ever, but despite this we know that rising flu cases coinciding with the junior doctors’ strike will put pressure on services in the coming weeks.
“Even though we have vaccinated more than 1.8 million people this season, there are still vulnerable people who are not coming forward.
“If you are in one of the eligible groups and have not yet had your flu vaccine, I urge you to come forward as soon as you can – it is never too late.”
Health experts added: “London’s NHS is facing an unprecedented flu wave this winter, with flu cases at a record high and the peak yet to be seen.”
The NHS has urged Londoners to get their flu vaccine “as a matter of urgency”, stressing that “now is the time to act” with Christmas just weeks away.
London Ambulance Service chief medical officer Dr. Fenella Wrigley said: “I strongly recommend that all eligible people get their flu vaccine.
“We are extremely busy and our 999 control room receives a lot of calls from people with flu or similar viral illnesses.
“The flu can make you feel terrible, but most healthy people recover with rest, fluids, and products available at your pharmacy to manage symptoms. We need our clinicians on hand to help people whose condition is more severe from the flu or other conditions.”
