UK hospital flu cases increase by 50% in a week

The National Health Service has already delivered millions of flu vaccines to those most at risk. PA

Hospital cases of influenza in England are up almost 50 per cent in a week as the illness circulates more widely among the population, figures show.

Estimates suggest the age range between 15 and 44 is the most severely affected, with 24.3 per cent of laboratory samples from this group testing positive, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Samples from all age groups testing positive are at 14.3 per cent in the week to December 4, up from 12.5 per cent the previous week.

Hospital admission rates are highest for those aged between 75 and 84, at 9.3 for every 100,000 people, followed by children under five (6.6) and over-85s (6.5).

The overall level of flu is still estimated to be below the same point three years ago, in the pre-Covid winter of 2019-2020.

But vaccination among pregnant women is at 30.5 per cent, down three percentage points on this stage last year and about four points lower than in 2020-2021.

Staying safe during flu season - in pictures

Doctors say children aged six months and above in the UAE should receive a vaccine ahead of the new flu season. Getty Images

Nick Webster, a reporter at 'The National', receives a flu jab from nurse Resy Hussain at Prime Hospital in Dubai last year. Pawan Singh / The National

In the UAE, flu cases usually increase in October and November, and can continue until June - typically in two waves. Getty Images

The 2022-23 vaccine is slightly different than previous years due to the constantly evolving strain of influenza. It is effective against four different flu viruses.

A government flu campaign is launched in the UAE every year to make sure people are vaccinated. Reuters

Inoculation among those aged between two and three is eight percentage points lower than last year and just over 14 points below the equivalent level in 2020-2021.

Just over a third (35.4 per cent) of two-year-olds have received a flu vaccine, along with a slightly higher proportion (37.6 per cent) of three-year-olds.

All children aged two and three are eligible for a flu nasal spray vaccine, which is being offered by local GPs.

In total, about 33 million people in England can have free flu vaccination this year, including everyone aged 50 and over, all primary school-aged children and some secondary school-aged children.

The vaccine is also being offered to pregnant women, people in care homes, frontline health and social care staff, carers, those aged six to 49 with a specified health condition, and household contacts of people with weakened immune systems.

Flu vaccination being administered around the world - in pictures

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan visiting a health clinic at Pearl Chemist in London to receive his flu vaccination and Covid-19 booster vaccination. PA

A nurse gives a patient a flu shot at Prime Hospital in Dubai. Masks and flu vaccines are contributing to record low numbers of influenza this year. Pawan Singh / The National

German Health Minister Jens Spahn gets an influenza vaccination at a doctor's surgery in Berlin. AFP

Army veteran William Craig waits to see if he has a reaction after receiving a Covid-19 booster vaccine and an influenza vaccine at the Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois. AFP

A nurse wearing a face mask injects the vaccine against influenza to a high-risk patient, outdoors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19, in Trelleborg, Sweden. AFP

Pharmaceutical companies around the world are racing to produce a vaccine for coronavirus while doctors prepare for a new challenge ahead of influenza season. AFP

First Minister for Wales, Mark Drakeford getting his flu vaccination. Welsh Government

An elderly man receives a coronavirus vaccine booster coinciding with the flu vaccination campaign in Seville. Reuters

“With winter now upon us, we are seeing flu circulating more widely," said Dr Conall Watson, the health agency's consultant epidemiologist.

“The NHS [National Health Service] frontline has already delivered millions of vaccines to those most at risk from what can be a deadly virus.

"With Christmas fast approaching, if you are eligible and have not yet been vaccinated, it can take a fortnight or so for the flu vaccine to provide protection.

“Nobody wants to see their loved ones sick or in hospital with flu over Christmas, so to ensure your family are ready to enjoy the festive season together, don’t hesitate and book your vaccine today.”

Flu and the common cold – in pictures

Doctors in the UAE have noticed a sharp rise in coughs and colds in the last month, after a year of hardly any patients suffering from common viruses such as flu. Getty Images

Dr Misha Sahu, a consultant paediatrian at HealthBay Motor City, has noticed her patients are suffering from more common viruses since the spring break. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Many children are suffering from ear infections, which are commonly caught after swimming.

Seasonal temperature changes play a part in increasing the number of people suffering from the cold virus. Getty Images

Washing your hands properly is one way to avoid catching the common cold, and it is also an important defence against Covid-19.

Figures from NHS England show there were an average of 712 flu cases a day in hospitals last week, up 48 per cent from 482 the previous week.

The figure for the first week of December last year was 31.