UKHSA Reports Declining Flu Levels but Warnings Remain
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has publishedits latest surveillance report. This weekly bulletin brings together the latest surveillance data, along with the latest public health advice for flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viruses.
Dr Jamie Lopez-Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA:
Some encouraging news for the festive season as we’re seeing flu levels continuing to decline and fewer people having to be admitted to hospital over the past week. But the virus is still very much with us and withRSVat similar levels as previous weeks, everyone, especially those most vulnerable to these winter bugs, needs to take care to protect themselves or help not to spread these viruses to others.
This is particularly important over Christmas as families come together to celebrate. So if you have any cold or flu-like symptoms you should try to minimise contact with others. There are simple steps we can all take to protect one another when mixing indoors. Washing hands regularly and ensuring indoor spaces are well ventilated helps and we advise those who have symptoms and need to go out, to consider wearing a face covering in indoor public spaces. These simple measures can help make a difference to reduce the spread.
Flu is always unpredictable, is still circulating and could bounce back even further in the new year as we have seen in past years. For anyone eligible who is still not vaccinated, it’s not too late to get protected for the rest of the winter, but time is running out. Nobody wants to start the new year with flu so if appointments are still available near you, please make an appointment as soon as you can as vaccination can make all the difference in preventing severe illness and hospitalisation.
Flu surveillance data for week 51 (15 to 21 December)
In week 51:
flu activity decreased across all indicators but is still circulating at medium levels
flu positivity decreased, with a weekly mean positivity rate of 17.2% compared with 21.1% in the previous week.
overall, flu hospitalisations were decreasing at 7.85 per 100,000 compared with 9.98 per 100,000 in the previous week
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) surveillance data for week 51 (15 to 21 December)
In week 51:
RSV activity showed mixed trends and is circulating at medium levels
the overall weekly hospital admission rate for RSV was increasing at 4.07 per 100,000 compared with 3.63 per 100,000 in the previous week
emergency department attendances for acute bronchiolitis decreased
COVID-19 surveillance data for week 51 (15 to 21 December)
In week 51:
COVID-19 activity remained stable and is at baseline levels
COVID-19 positivity decreased slightly to 1.6% from 1.9% in the previous week
COVID-19 hospitalisations were decreasing slightly at 0.91 per 100,000 compared with 1.09 per 100,000 in the previous week
COVID-19 ICU admissions remained low at 0.02 per 100,000 compared with 0.05 per 100,000 in the previous week