‘Unusually early start’ to flu season, says UKHSA

This year’s flu season is off to an ‘unusually early start’, according to latest surveillance figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

NHS England (NHSE) warned it could mean a ‘long and drawn-out winter’ for the health service with cases three times higher than this time last year.

It follows the warning signs from the Asia-pacific, where Japan has already declared a flu epidemic, with many schools needing to close, NHSE said.

Rising cases in the UK are largely being driven by a sharp increase in influenza notifications among school-aged children, the latest activity report shows as well as some uptick among other groups.

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UKHSA is advising everyone aged 65 and over, pregnant women, or with certain long-term health conditions to book their flu vaccination appointment as soon as possible.

Parents are also being reminded to book appointments for two to three-year-olds to have the nasal vaccine and sign consent forms for older children to be vaccinated at school.

Overall influenza positivity increased with a weekly mean positivity rate of 8.2% compared with 6.1% in the previous week and 2.9% this time last year.

In those aged five to 14 years, positivity rate was 30.8% compared to 20.0% last week, in samples taken from hospitals.

And GP consultations have also started to climb, UKHSA said. Among swabs from sentinel GP practices, 10.2% were positive for influenza, compared with 7.3% in the previous week, the figures showed.

Higher circulation was seen in children and remained high in young adults, UKHSA said. So far flu vaccine uptake is comparable with the same period last year, the agency added.

But Covid activity is falling, figures suggesting, and sitting around baseline levels. Respiratory syncytial virus activity has been more mixed but overall is normal for the time of year.

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UKHSA consultant epidemiologist Dr Alex Allen said: ‘We’re seeing an unusually early start to the flu season this year, with the latest data showing a sharp increase among children but also increases in other age groups, with the virus now starting to spread more widely in the community.

‘If you’re eligible for a vaccine it is because you are at greater risk of severe illness – every year we see many thousands end up in hospital and far too many deaths from flu.

‘It’s crucial that everyone eligible books their appointment as soon as possible. The vaccine is our best defence.’

In September, the government announced that pharmacists are now able to prescribe flu antivirals at any time of the year following changes to prescribing regulations.

The change allows oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza) to be prescribed and dispensed outside the flu season.

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The government said that this will allow patients to receive treatment sooner and ease winter pressures on the NHS by allowing outbreaks to be contained, and it is part of efforts to reduce bureaucracy as part of the Red Tape Challenge.

This article was first published by our sister title Pulse