Officials have warned that UK hospitals are facing a ‘tidal wave of flu’ as the H3N2 strain sends a surge of patients into hospitals across the country
The number of people hospitalised in England with “super flu” continues to soar and remains at a record level for this time of year, new NHS figures show.
A new map shows how the H3N2 strain is hitting hospitals across the country as it drives an unusually early and severe flu season because of “less natural immunity in the community”.
New data released this morning shows a rise of 18% on the previous week when there were 2,660 cases. Last week there were an average of 3,140 patients in hospital with the virus, which represented a terrifying jump of 55% on the week before that.
Take a look at our interactive map to see how NHS services in your area are faring.
With today’s news of an 18% increase, it appears the rate at which cases are climbing is slowing down. NHS England publishes weekly updates on the number of flu patients in hospital. At this point last year the number stood at 2,629 patients, while in 2023 it was just 648.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS National Medical Director, said: “With record demand for A&E and ambulances and an impending resident doctors strike, this unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year – with staff being pushed to the limit to keep providing the best possible care for patients.
“The numbers of patients in hospital with flu is extremely high for this time of year. Even worse, it continues to rise and the peak is not in sight yet, so the NHS faces an extremely challenging few weeks ahead.”
Some 128 flu patients were in critical care beds in England last week, up from 106 the previous week and slightly higher than the number at this point last year when the figure was 125.
Last winter the weekly flu numbers for England peaked at 5,408 patients, while over the winter of 2022/23 numbers reached 5,441, which was the highest level since the pandemic.
Officials have previously warned that UK hospitals are facing a “tidal wave of flu” with fears that doctors’ strikes and post-Christmas demand will cause a perfect storm for the NHS.
“The flu predictions look worrying…” one hospital chief previously told the Health Service Journal. “If they come through as predicted the second week of January could be carnage – a perfect storm of flu, post Christmas surge and the lag impact of [strikes].”
Health authorities have cautioned that a ‘drifted’ flu variant, identified as A(H3N2) – or subclade K – has swiftly emerged as the predominant influenza strain nationwide. The H3N2 subtype represents one of three primary viruses responsible for seasonal flu.
The health service faces a challenging time as it grapples with an early flu season and more people in hospital with flu at this time of year than ever before. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is advising all eligible people to get a flu jab.
“Vaccines help protect those most vulnerable from developing serious illness and being hospitalized and we strongly encourage all those eligible to get vaccinated against flu as soon as possible – vaccines remain our best defence,” the agency said.
Flu symptoms can appear abruptly and include:
- a sudden high temperature
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or stomach pain
- nausea and vomiting
Meanwhile today’s stats also showed an average of 427 hospital beds were filled each day last week by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms, up 21% from 354 the previous week. This is lower than at this point in 2024, when the figure stood at 711. The figures come as part of the latest weekly snapshot of the performance of hospitals in England this winter.
