Flu admissions to hospitals nearly double in a week

FLU admissions to Welsh hospitals nearly doubled in a week as rates are currently high for this point in the year.

- By OWEN HUGHES

The latest update from the Weekly Surveillance Report “suggests” influenza is now circulating in the community in Wales.

Confirmed cases of community acquired influenza admitted to hospital increased to 47 in the current week. This was up from 28 in the previous week.

There were 54 inpatient cases of confirmed influenza, one of whom was in critical care, compared to 36 and one in the previous week.

The highest rates (in order) are found in babies, toddlers (1-4) and the over 75s.

Levels remain at low intensity but they are high for this time in the year.

There were 7.8 influenza like illness (ILI) consultations per 100,000 of the doctors practice population in the most recent week, an increase compared to the previous week from 5.4.

This rate is higher than in any of the previous five years, which is causing a concern as we head into the peak flu months of December and January.