Doctors' warning as flu and norovirus levels rising across UK

The number of people in hospital in England with flu or norovirus is continuing to rise, with health chiefs warning that levels are likely to increase further as winter sets in. New figures have been published as part of the weekly snapshot of how the NHS in England is performing this winter.

An average of 402 patients were in hospital each day last week with flu, up by nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) from 243 in the previous week, including 18 people in critical care beds. It is the highest number so far this winter, but is below the equivalent figure for this point last year – 1,248 – when the UK was in the middle of its worst flu season for a decade.

The hospital admission rate for flu stood at 2.1 per 100,000 people in the week ending December 10, up from 0.9 the previous week – but some way below the 8.4 per 100,000 at this stage in 2022.

READ MORE: UKHSA issues statement as case of rare infectious disease confirmed at UK primary school

Read more health news from the Manchester Evening News here.

Cases of norovirus, the most common infectious cause of diarrhoea and vomiting, are also continuing to rise, with an average of 506 adult hospital beds filled last week by patients with norovirus-like symptoms. This is up a quarter (25 per cent) from 406 beds the previous week, and 31 per cent higher than at this stage last year, when the average stood at 387.

Norovirus spreads easily through contact with someone who has the virus or with contaminated surfaces, the NHS says. While most people make a full recovery within two or three days, the virus can lead to dehydration, especially among the very young, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director,