Health professionals say winter flu is peaking

Despite the number of patients being admitted to hospital with winter flu remaining high, health professionals are hopeful that the worst of the season may soon be over.

Public Health England (PHE) has reported that rates across most indicators have remained relatively stable, with a stabilisation in the GP consultation rate with flu-like illness, a 12 per cent reduction in the flu hospitalisation rate, and a 14 per cent reduction in the flu intensive care admission rate.

However, in what has been deemed the worst flu outbreak since in recent years, three times as many people are dying of flu this winter in the UK compared with last year, with the death toll since October now at 155.

Richard Pebody, acting head of the Respiratory Diseases Department at PHE, said: “We are continuing to see flu circulate, however, rates across most indicators have remained relatively stable and signs are that flu activity is starting to peak. Rates of vaccination across all those eligible for the vaccine have increased on last season and we have vaccinated an additional one and a half million people. We are currently seeing a mix of flu types, including the A(H3N2) strain that circulated last winter in the UK and then in Australia and flu B. The best form of protection against flu is to get the vaccine if you are eligible and to practice good respiratory and hand hygiene.”

Helen Stokes-Lampard, of the Royal College of GPs, said: "There are still huge numbers of patients being seen in general practice with flu and other common winter conditions - and GPs and our teams are certainly feeling the pressure."