Flu cases nearly double as hospital admissions hit new high - full symptom list
The number of flu patients in hospital in England has hit a new winter high and has nearly doubled since the start of the year, figures indicate.
An average of 2,478 people were in hospital each day last week with flu, including 106 in critical care beds, according to NHS England. The total is up 11% from 2,226 the previous week and up 89% from the beginning of January.
Flu infections this year are surging at a later point than last winter, when cases peaked at Christmas and then fell rapidly – although last’s year outbreak saw hospital numbers top 5,000, in what was the worst flu season in the UK for a decade.
This year’s outbreak has yet to see patient figures reach a similar level. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England national medical director, said the continuing rise in flu cases showed that “winter pressures continue to hit the NHS hard”.
The latest figures for seasonal viruses also indicate that norovirus cases have dropped, with an average of 568 adult hospital beds filled in the week to February 4 by people with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms.
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This is down 17% week-on-week from 688 beds, which was the highest so far this winter. An average of 3,563 people who had tested positive for Covid-19 were in hospital last week, down 11% from 3,983 the previous week and 16% below this winter’s high of 4,245 in early January.
Covid-19 patient numbers peaked at more than 9,000 last winter. Prof Steven Riley, director of data surveillance at UKHSA, said: “Covid-19 is still causing serious illness and hospitalisation, particularly in older and more vulnerable people. If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness like Covid-19, try to limit your contact with other people as much as possible, especially those who are more at risk.”
And last week Dr Mary Ramsay, public health director at UKHSA, said: "Flu cases and hospitalisations continue to increase, following a decrease over the festive period. Covid-19 activity remains mostly stable. There are simple steps can take to reduce the spread of respiratory infections like flu and Covid-19. Let fresh air in when meeting others indoors, wash your hands and cover your coughs and sneezes. If you are showing symptoms of a respiratory illness, try to reduce your contact with others, particularly those who are more vulnerable, and consider wearing a mask if you do need to go out.”
Flu symptoms can include:
- a sudden high temperature
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
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