Has flu peaked? What the figures tell us
NHS remains on high alert over flu, health bosses say, but there are signs infections are levelling off.
Whatโs Happening
Breaking it down: NHS remains on high alert over flu, health bosses say, but there are signs infections are levelling off.
What the figures tell us 20 hours ago Save Jim Reed , Health reporter , Wesley Stephenson , BBC Verify and Nick Triggle , Health correspondent Save The NHS remains on high alert over flu, health bosses say, but there are clear signs the surge in the virus has come to an end for now at least. Community spread appears to have stabilised, the UK Health Security Agency says. (let that sink in)
Meanwhile, the rise in hospital cases has slowed.
The Details
And with just over 3,000 patients in hospital in England with the virus, the dire prediction executive Sir Jim Mackay of โbetween 5,000 and 8,000โ cases has not materialised. How serious then is this flu season so far, and how does it fr compare to previous outbreaks of the virus?
The major difference between the 2025 flu season and the last three years is that the virus kicked off spreading a few weeks earlier than normal. When someone goes to their GP or hospital with flu-like symptoms, they can be swabbed and tested for influenza, Covid, RSV and other viruses.
Why This Matters
UKHSA then records the percentage of those tests that come back positive for flu. Figures had been rising quickly over the autumn and at the start of winter. But last week the spread of the virus appears to have stabilised at a medium level, UKHSA says.
Medical professionals are taking note of this development.
Key Takeaways
- It is too early to say whether this marks the start of the peak.
- Flu is unpredictable, a lull can be followed .
- The picture across the four nations of the UK is similar.
- Some virologists have linked the earlier flu season this year to the type of virus that is circulating - known as H3N2.
The Bottom Line
Scientists also spotted a further shift in the genetic makeup of the virus over the summer. This might have given the virus a head-start in the autumn.
What do you think about all this?
Originally reported by BBC Health
Got a question about this? ๐ค
Ask anything about this article and get an instant answer.
Answers are AI-generated based on the article content.
vibe check:
