Hospitals braced for once-in-a-decade surge in flu cases

Hospitals are preparing for a once-in-a-decade flu season amid concerns that a mutated version of the virus spreading in younger people will drive a wave of admissions when it reaches elderly cohorts.

- Ian Sample Science editor

The threat has prompted NHS managers to redouble efforts to vaccinate staff and their local communities, expand same-day emergency care and treat more patients outside hospitals.

The preparations come as resident doctors in England continue a five-day strike over pay, with hospitals rescheduling some appointments and bringing in consultants and other staff for extra shifts.

“Last flu season was particularly nasty and we're very concerned this year could be even worse,” said Elaine Clancy, the chief nursing officer for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier hospitals in southwest London.

“We're preparing for a spike of flu on our wards.”

Scientists first spotted the mutated version of the flu virus in June. Genetic analysis shows it is a descendant of a strain that fuelled the worst flu season on record in Australia this year. Australia recorded more than 400,000 lab-confirmed cases. Low vaccination rates compounded the problem.