The NHS has urged people to get their jabs as a ‘superflu’ spreads rapidly across the UK. Hospitalisations have tripled in London and schools across the country are shutting as a result of the spread.
The health service said it is ‘bracing for an unprecedented flu wave this winter’. Last week, an average of 259 people were in hospital beds across the capital because of flu — a sharp rise compared with the daily average of 89 at the same time last year. The London Ambulance Service says it has been handling an unusually high number of calls — about 7,500 per day over the final weekend of November — levels they would normally expect on New Year’s Eve, their busiest day of the year.
It comes as schools are closing amid escalating flu outbreaks that are seeing hundreds of pupils off sick at a time. Headteachers say they have had to introduce measures to curb the spread of what has been called a “tidal wave of flu” in recent weeks, which has led to a sharp increase in student absences.
Some schools have closed for several days to carry out deep cleaning, while others have made significant changes, like cancelling singing during assemblies.
Earlier this St Martin’s School in Caerphilly was forced to close after 250 pupils and staff members fell ill. In an email Lee Jarvis, the head teacher, told parents and carers the school had experienced “a significant outbreak of flu-like illness”.
Whilst Congleton High School wrote on social media that they had to shut on November 26 and 27 to undergo a deep clean of the premises after discussions with the UK Security North West Health Protection Team and Infection Control Team.
Last month was the busiest November ever recorded for the London Ambulance Service, with 999 call handlers taking 192,600 calls — more than 13,000 above the total for the same month last year.
Dr Chris Streather, Chief Medical Director for the NHS in London, said: “The NHS has prepared earlier for winter than ever before, but despite this, we know that surging flu cases, coinciding with industrial action by resident doctors, will put pressure on services in the coming weeks.
“While we’ve vaccinated over 1.8 million people this season, there are still vulnerable people who haven’t come forward.
“If you’re in one of the eligible groups and you haven’t had your flu vaccine yet, I urge you to come forward as soon as possible – it’s never too late.”
Health experts added: “With flu cases at a record high and no peak yet in sight, London’s NHS system is facing an unprecedented flu wave this winter.”
The NHS has urged Londoners to get their flu vaccine “as a matter of urgency,” highlighting that with just a few weeks until Christmas, “now is the time to act.”
Dr Fenella Wrigley, chief medical officer for the London Ambulance Service, said: “I strongly urge all eligible people to get a flu vaccination.
“We are extremely busy and our 999 control rooms are taking a number of calls from people with flu or similar viral illnesses.
“Flu can make you feel very unwell, but most healthy people recover with rest, fluids and products available at your pharmacy to manage symptoms. We need our clinicians to be available to help the people who are more seriously unwell with flu or other conditions.”
