Warning after rise in flu cases in hospitals

THIS year’s flu season has started “unusually early” with infections already rising among most age groups ahead of what is likely to be a “very challenging winter”, health experts have warned.

- IAN JONES Press Association

Hospital admissions for flu in England stood at 2.2 per 100,000 people last week, up from 1.7 the previous week.

While this is still well below the peaks reached in recent seasons, it is double the rate at this point last year (1.1) and higher than the rates at this stage in 2023 (0.2) and 2022 (1.2).

Admission rates are highest among people aged 85 and over, at 11.8 per 100,000 people, up week on week from 7.2; for children aged four and under, at 5.5 (up from 4.7); and 75 to 84-year-olds, at 4.9 (up from 3.3).