UK health warning as virus cases soar and Brits urged to take action ‘ASAP’ | UK | News
Britons eligible for a flu jab are being asked to make an appointment “as soon as possible” due to rising infections. The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) warns that this year’s flu season has started “unusually early” with cases three times higher than this time last year.
Data from the UKHSA shows infections rose from 6.1% to 8.2% this week, largely due to a rise in the rate of school-aged children falling ill. UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Alex Allen encouraged those eligible for a flu jab to come forward, saying it was “our best defence”. He said: “This year we are seeing an unusually early start to the flu season, with the latest data showing a sharp increase among children but also increases in other age groups and the virus now beginning to spread more widely in the community.
“If you are eligible for the vaccine, it is because you are at higher risk of serious illness; we see thousands of people hospitalized and far too many people dying from the flu every year.
“It is very important that everyone makes their appointment as soon as possible.”
The number of people admitted to hospital with flu in England has risen to 2.2 per 100,000 people, from 1.7 last week.
While this rate remains well below the peaks reached in recent seasons, it is double the rate at this point in 2024 (1.1) and is at this stage above the rates in 2023 (0.2) and 2022 (1.2).
England’s chief nursing officer, Duncan Burton, said the early rise of flu in children was “particularly worrying” and that it often preceded a rise in infections in adults.
Warning it was likely to be a “very difficult winter”, he said: “It is vital that those eligible get their vaccinations as soon as possible to avoid a long and drawn-out flu season.
“The flu virus changes every year, so it’s important to get vaccinated every year to keep you and your family protected and to help reduce spread to others.”
The calls followed warning signs from the Asia-Pacific; Japan has already declared a flu epidemic, with many schools closed.
The NHS says eligible adults should aim to get their flu vaccine by the end of November.
Jabs is open to anyone 65 and older; For people under 65 years of age in the clinical risk group; care home residents and carers; pregnant women; those in close contact with immunocompromised individuals; and frontline health and social care workers and children.
Appointments and walk-in sessions are available at local pharmacies, GP practices and community clinic referral centers nationwide.
Parents are also reminded to fill out their child’s vaccination consent forms for schools or to make an appointment for children ages 2-3.
