Health chiefs are urging people in England to get vaccinated to prevent the risk of a “bounce back” by the virus in the New Year.
Hospital admissions for flu in England are falling for the first time this winter after the virus hit early and swept through London.
Health chiefs welcomed the drop in the number of hospital patients with flu, but are asking people to be vigilant.
Dr Jamie Lopez-Bernal, UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, said the nationwide figures were “encouraging” but he stressed that the virus is “still very much with us,” with other winter bugs also circulating.
“Everyone, especially those most vulnerable to these winter bugs, needs to take care to protect themselves or help not to spread these viruses to others,” he said.
“Flu is always unpredictable, is still circulating and could bounce back even further in the New Year as we have seen in past years.
“So if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms, you should try to minimise contact with others.
“This is particularly important over Christmas as families come together to celebrate.”
He added: “Flu is always unpredictable, is still circulating and could bounce back even further in the New Year as we have seen in past years.”
This message will be important for those attending firework shows with large crowds this New Year.
Flu had a weekly mean positivity rate of 17.2% compared with 21.1% in the previous week. Overall, flu hospitalisations were decreasing at 7.85 per 100,000 compared with 9.98 per 100,000 in the previous week.
The NHS said: “Flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill. It’s important to get the flu vaccine if you’re eligible.”
The health body continued: “What to do if you have flu. If you have flu, there are some things you can do to help get better more quickly.”
The recommendations come as flu continues to circulate at “medium levels” in the UK. Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed that in the week of December 15 to 21, flu activity decreased across all indicators, “but is still circulating at medium levels”.
