Key Summary
- Flu cases in Scotland up 45 per cent in a week
- New strain suspected; vaccines still recommended
- Hospitals strained; severe symptoms require urgent care
Scotland has been witnessing a spike in flu cases over the past week with the GPs and hospitals reporting a sharp rise in patients.
According to Public Health Scotland (PHS), there has been a rise in test positivity from 11 percent to 15.8 percent.
Scotland had 555 existing cases and within a week it rose 45 percent to 805 cases.
Dr Victoria Shotton, a Glasgow East End-based GP told BBC the number of flu cases have spiked early this year.
She doubted the capability of the existing flu jabs to fight the new mutation, but felt people should get vaccinated as it still offered some protection, and helped in reducing its severity.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and hospitals in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland are facing a sharp rise in hospital admissions, leading to hospital ward closures.
The common symptoms include a sudden, intense fever, breathing difficulties, severe chest pains, body aches, feeling hot and cold, feeling lethargic, having sensitive skin, vomiting and diarrhea.
Shotton pointed out that uneasiness in breathing, bad chest pain, and vomiting or diarrhea as the three major signs to get immediate medical help
