Britain is being battered by a ‘skyrocketing’ tidal wave of flu, health chiefs warned today.
Surveillance programmes that monitor the UK’s outbreak suggest flu hospital admissions are quadruple that of a month ago.
Figures show more than 4,500 beds alone were taken up by flu patients every day last week, up 3.5 times on the same week last year.
Of these, 211 were in critical care — up 69 per cent on the previous week.
More than 4,100 Brits also spent Christmas Day in hospital with the flu. By December 29, this had risen to over 5,000.
Rates of the winter vomiting bug norovirus, meanwhile, are also 40 per cent higher than expected for this time of year.
Health chiefs fear the outbreaks will continue to pick up pace in the coming days following more people socialising indoors over the Christmas and the New Year period.
They also warned that an ‘extreme’ cold spell set to hit the UK this weekend will continue to pile pressure on already stretched hospitals.
According to the latest forecast, the UK will see temperatures plummet to as low as -10C with weather warnings in place across much of England and Scotland for snow.
Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: ‘These latest figures show the pressure from flu was nowhere near letting up before we headed into the New Year, skyrocketing to over 5,000 cases a day in hospital as of the end of last week and rising at a very concerning rate.
‘On top of flu there is also continual pressure from Covid, while RSV and norovirus hospital cases are also higher than last year, with hospitals putting in place an extra 1,300 beds last week than the same time last year in expectation of this continued pressure from viruses and other demand.
‘With what looks like an extreme cold snap expected right across England ahead of the weekend, we know the low temperatures can be dangerous for those who are vulnerable or have respiratory conditions.
‘So, if you are at risk, do try and keep warm and make sure you are stocked up on any regular medication.
‘Please continue to use NHS 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only use 999 or attend A&E in life-threatening emergencies.’
According to the latest weekly NHS figures, an average of 528 hospital beds in England were filled each day last week by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms.
This is down from 723 in the previous week but almost double the same point last year and (377) and in 2022 (338).
Norovirus can appear similar the symptoms of Covid, with both viruses causing chills, fever and headaches
RSV — which is most common in infants and young children — was up almost half on the same period in 2023.
An average of 74 children were in hospital every day last week with RSV.
More than 1,100 beds were also occupied by patients with Covid.
Some hospitals have begun to limit visiting hours and have imposed mask mandates over fears of rising ‘quad-demic’ cases.
Earlier this week, NHS trusts including Cambridge, Northern Lincolnshire, Essex and Bedfordshire introduced new restrictions to limit the risk of infection to patients, staff and the public.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and the Welsh Ambulance Service declared critical incidents due to the huge increase in demand for care.
On Saturday, NHS Dumfries and Galloway also introduced temporary restrictions to visiting due a ‘high volume of respiratory illness’ in the community.
More NHS trusts are expected to declare critical incidents in the coming days, with primary care already seeing demand increase significantly after the holiday period.
The UK Health Security Agency imposed an amber cold health alert until January 8 which warns the weather will likely cause ‘significant impacts across health and social care services’
Snow in Allenheads, Northumberland, photographed on Thursday morning
Yesterday, the health service warned people not to go outside early in the morning or late at night during the upcoming snowy weather.
The joint advice, from the NHS and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), also urged people to check their medicine cabinets for essentials and to keep active by not sitting still for more than an hour and wearing several layers of thinner clothing.
A separate UKHSA Cold-Health Alert issued for all regions of England is expected to last until January 8.
Despite the rising pressures, latest official data shows just under one in four frontline healthcare workers in England have had the flu vaccine this year.
The Government report found overall just 24.3 per cent of staff responsible for direct patient care have been vaccinated for influenza.
Analysis of data showed vaccination rates are lower in every staff group, including NHS hospital staff, paramedics and GPs this year than in the 2023 season.
Public health specialists say those with even mild cold symptoms should consider self-isolating as they may unknowingly have the virus which can be fatal to older people.
Along with avoiding family gatherings, they have recommended mask-wearing and social distancing in a bid to avoid passing on the bug.
The above five Met Office maps show snow in London between Sunday 10pm and Monday 2am
Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in infectious diseases from the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: ‘If you are ill with flu you should stay away from other people for the first three days and preferably for the first week.
‘This is especially important if they are elderly or suffer from medical conditions that make them more at risk.’
Flu symptoms include a fever, sore throat, muscle aches and a cough, however Prof Hunter warned many people simply suffer something similar to a common cold.
About a fifth of those infected with flu have no symptoms but can still pass the bug on to others, he added.
Professor Lawrence Young, virologist from the University of Warwick, also urged people with potential flu symptoms to consider lockdown-style measures.
‘If you have flu-like symptoms, it’s really important to think about limiting your contact with other people particularly those who are clinically vulnerable to chest infections,’ he said.
He added this was important to consider even if vulnerable people had received a flu jab as, like any vaccine, it cannot offer 100 per cent protection from serious illness.
Flu, also called influenza, is responsible for about 40,000 hospitalisations and more than 10,000 deaths in the UK every year, though this can be higher in bad years.
