This year’s flu season has begun ‘unusually early’, according to surveillance figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
NHS England 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, NHS England 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.
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.
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.
Rory Deighton, acute and community care director at the NHS Confederation, said: ‘The flu season arriving early this year is deeply worrying given the signs were already pointing to another difficult winter. The NHS has already had a very busy summer and has been running hot coming into the winter months, so this will pile yet more pressure on already squeezed services.
‘NHS leaders have been stepping up preparations for winter, but they are concerned that the spike in seasonal viruses coupled with staff sickness levels could also be compounded by forthcoming industrial action – with resident doctors planning five days of strikes in November.
‘To protect themselves this winter we would urge people to get vaccinated against flu, Covid, and RSV if eligible and consider using alternatives to A&E – such as NHS 111, local pharmacies, and expanded on-the-day GP access – whenever appropriate. These simple steps can make a real difference in keeping patients safe, well and out of hospital.’
It comes as flu vaccination uptake was reportedly higher than last year in the first week of its availability.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Pulse.
