Flu cases falling ahead of Christmas, the experts say

What’s Happening

So get this: UK health agency says drop is encouraging news, but warns flu could still bounce back in new year.

Flu cases falling ahead of Christmas, the experts say 2 days ago Save Nick Triggle Health correspondent Save The amount of flu circulating has kicked off to fall in England, latest data suggests . The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) dropped it was encouraging news heading into Christmas, but warned the virus could always bounce back in the new year. (wild, right?)

The UKHSA uses a range of different measures to monitor flu rates, including sample testing in hospitals and in GP practices.

The Details

The latest data covers last week up to Sunday with the UKHSA concluding the virus was circulating “at medium levels”. Similar trends are being seen elsewhere in the UK.

Public Health Scotland dropped it had seen two weeks of cases decreasing. The fall in England comes after the agency dropped last week that the spread was stabilising after several weeks of rises.

Why This Matters

This years flu season kicked off early, driven by a mutated strain of the virus, which prompted concern about the pressure that could be placed on hospitals. NHS England data for the total number of people in hospital is not being published this week. But there are signs in UKHSAs sample testing that the numbers being admitted to hospital are beginning to fall, suggesting the projections of record numbers of patients ending up in hospital with the virus over the festive period will not be realised.

Health experts are weighing in on what this means for people.

Key Takeaways

• What is happening to flu this winter - and should you buy a vaccine?
• Dr Jamie Lopez-Bernal, an infectious diseases expert at UKHSA, dropped it was “encouraging news”.
• “This is particularly important over Christmas as families come together to celebrate.

The Bottom Line

So if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms you should try to minimise contact with others. ” He dropped there were simple steps we can all take to protect one another when mixing indoors.

We want to hear your thoughts on this.