Seasonal Flu Levels Are Increasing In The UK Says The HPA

The Health Protection Agency has issued its latest report into the incidences off influenza being reported in the UK.

Not surprisingly to many, given the dramatic changes to the countries weather, now being blamed almost solely on Global Warming; the picture is looking bleak as the HPA report shows an increase in the numbers being infected with seasonal flu.

The report states:

Several indicators of influenza activity showed increases during the final days of 2012 including GP consultation rates, calls to NHS Direct and new admissions to intensive care/high-dependency units in England. Children aged five to 14 have been the group most affected by flu so far this season, with other age-groups now being affected. The overall increase to date has been in line with seasonal trends.

The HPA Weekly National Influenza Report provides a regular situation report on flu and flu-like illness in the UK.

Key indicators from the 3 January edition – relating to week 52 (ending 30 December) – are as follows:

• the weekly primary care influenza/influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate (per 100,000 population) increased in England (to 32.7), Scotland (to 37.1) and Northern Ireland (to 43.7) and decreased in Wales (to 3.4);
  
  
• the proportion of NHS Direct calls for cold/flu increased and the proportion for fever (5-14 years) decreased slightly, but both remained above their respective influenza thresholds of 1.6% and 11.7%;
  
  
• 12 acute respiratory disease outbreaks (seven in care homes, three in schools and two in hospitals) were reported, for three of which virological results were available: one was confirmed as influenza B, one was influenza A (unsubtyped) and one was RSV;
  
  
• 40 new admissions to ICU/HDU with confirmed influenza (21 B, 11 A(subtype not known), seven A(H3N2), and one A(H1N1)pdm09) were reported through the USISS mandatory ICU surveillance scheme across the UK; and
  
  
• up to week 50, 71.7% of people in England aged 65 years and over had received the 2012/13 influenza vaccine (provisional data). For those in a clinical risk group aged under 65 years, provisional uptake was 48.3% and amongst pregnant women, the provisional uptake was 39.6%.

On 17 December 2012, the Department of Health issued guidance on the use of antiviral drugs for the management of those influenza patients in England who are at high risk of developing complications from flu.

Flu can give you any of these symptoms:

• sudden fever - a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above
• dry, chesty cough
• headache
• tiredness
• chills
• aching muscles
• limb or joint pain
• diarrhoea or upset stomach
• sore throat
• runny or blocked nose
• sneezing
• loss of appetite
• difficulty sleeping

An ordinary cold can sometimes feel as if it is flu, when in fact it is not.

Flu symptoms

• come on quickly and include fever and aching muscles
• make you feel too unwell to continue your usual activities

Cold symptoms

• come on gradually
• affect just your nose and throat
• are fairly mild so you can still get around and are usually well enough to go to work

Advice on seasonal flu outbreaks and how to protect yourself and when to go to your GP can be found on the NHS Choices website here

Source HPA / NHS

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