Health officials have issued a stark warning that the UK's early and severe flu season could see up to 8,000 people requiring hospital care before the outbreak reaches its peak. A new and more infectious mutated strain of the virus is driving the wave, which has already led to record numbers of patients needing urgent treatment.
A More Infectious and Rapidly Evolving Strain
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that the circulating flu virus has evolved faster than usual, leading to lower population immunity. This has resulted in a significant and early spike in cases, particularly among children and young adults.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, explained the situation to Sky News. "The new strain circulating has evolved a bit more rapidly than normal," he said. "And that could mean that there's a bit less immunity in the population... and that the flu virus spreads a bit more than usual."
He added that while the surge began in younger people, there are now concerning signs it is spreading to older, more vulnerable groups who are at higher risk of severe complications.
NHS Braces for Significant Winter Pressure
Professor Julian Redhead, national director for urgent care for NHS England, stated that the health service is facing a "big challenge". He revealed that current hospital admissions for flu stand at around 1,500 to 2,000, but predictions suggest this could rise dramatically.
"The predictions are that it will rise to somewhere between 5,000 and 8,000," Professor Redhead said. "So you can see the pressure that will be put on the system will be very large and that's why we're concerned."
He warned that the flu should not be underestimated, as it can lead to serious complications like pneumonia and affect the heart and lungs, even in normally healthy individuals. The most vulnerable groups are the very old and very young, but the current transmission pattern poses a clear danger.
Recognising the Symptoms and the Vaccination Effort
The NHS emphasises that flu symptoms are distinct from a common cold and can appear very suddenly. Key signs to watch for include:
- A sudden high temperature that develops within hours.
- A headache, dry cough, and aching body.
- Overwhelming exhaustion that prevents normal activity.
- In children, symptoms can also include earache and a notable drop in energy.
Despite a major vaccination push, with over 17 million flu jabs administered in England so far, health leaders stress that more coverage is needed to curb the spread. The peak of this intense flu wave is still not in sight, prompting urgent calls for at-risk groups to get vaccinated and for the public to remain vigilant about symptoms.
