Flu cases falling ahead of Christmas, experts say
The amount of flu circulating in the UK has begun to fall. Latest data shows that.
The UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) said the news in the run-up to Christmas was encouraging but warned the virus could always return in the new year.
The UKHSA uses a number of different measures to monitor flu rates, including sample testing in hospitals and GP surgeries.
The latest data covers the period from last week to Sunday, with the UKHSA concluding the virus was circulating at “moderate levels”.
Similar trends are seen elsewhere in the UK. Public Health Scotland said it had seen cases decline for two weeks.
The decline in the UK comes after the agency said last week that the spread had stabilized after several weeks of increases.
This year’s flu season started early due to a mutated strain of the virus, raising concerns about the pressure it could put on hospitals.
NHS England data on the total number of people in hospital is not published this week.
But there are signs in the UKHSA’s sample tests that the number of hospital admissions is starting to fall; This indicates that predictions that a record number of patients will be hospitalized over the festive period will not come true.
Dr Jamie Lopez-Bernal, infectious diseases specialist at UKHSA, said this was “encouraging news”.
But he added: “The virus is still with us and everyone, especially those most vulnerable to winter bugs, needs to help protect themselves or not spread these viruses to others.
“This is especially important at Christmas when families come together to celebrate, so if you have cold or flu-like symptoms you should try to minimize contact with others.”
He said there are simple steps we can all take to protect each other while mingling indoors.
“Washing hands regularly and ensuring indoor spaces are well ventilated helps. We advise people who have symptoms and need to go out to wear a face mask in indoor public spaces. These simple measures can help make a difference in reducing the spread.”
“Flu is always unpredictable, it is still circulating and may return further in the new year as we have seen in past years,” he warned.
