Key Summary
- Flu activity in September was higher than in the same period over the last four years
- The early rise is mostly among 18- to 24-year-olds.
- Experts warn the increase in hospital admissions could put added pressure on hospitals this winter.
Health experts are urging people to get their flu jabs as hospital admissions increase and officials claim it is high for this time of year.
Although flu levels are currently low, flu activity in September was higher than in the same period over the last four years, according to a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report.
The early rise is mostly among 18- to 24-year-olds, and if the upward trend continues, England could see an early flu season.
Experts claim flu vaccine can help avoid becoming seriously ill. UKHSA analysis from last season found the vaccine reduced flu hospitalisation risk by 68% in children aged 2 to 17 and by 29% in adults aged 65 and over.
UKHSA figures show hospital admissions for flu were 1.97 per 100,000 for the week to 4 October.
Experts warn the increase in hospital admissions could put added pressure on hospitals this winter.
The NHS national medical director, Professor Frankie Swords, said there were “slightly ominous” signs of winter pressure for the health service.
Swords told a briefing: “From an NHS perspective, it is very early in the season, but the number of admissions for flu are the highest that I can remember seeing at this time of year, and it’s coincided with just the start of the expected increase in Covid cases in our hospitals.
“But this is coming on the back of the busiest summer we’ve ever had in our emergency departments; we have got very, very busy hospitals.
“So slightly ominous early signs of winter pressure.”
What strains are circulating this year?
So far this flu season, a mix of two flu A subtypes, H1N1 and H3N2, has been circulating in England.
It is not yet known which strain will dominate this winter, but the vaccine is designed to protect against all three main types of flu: influenza A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and influenza B.
One of the H1N1 viruses has “drifted”, meaning it has changed slightly from the strain used in this year’s vaccine. However, UKHSA says flu vaccines typically remain effective at preventing severe illness even when drifted strains are circulating.
Dr Jamie LopezBernal, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Flu levels are increasing with the possibility of an early flu season so now is the time for those eligible to get vaccinated.
“The vaccine contains components to help protect against all three types of flu virus. We may see one flu virus dominating at different times during winter, or all three circulating at similar levels throughout. As we saw with last year’s dominant virus, flu vaccines typically remain effective at preventing severe flu, even when drifted strains are seen.”
