There was a 352% enhance within the variety of folks hospitalised with the flu in comparison with this time final 12 months, NHS knowledge exhibits.

NHS fears of a possible ‘quad-demic’ are rising, with the variety of sufferers at present in hospital with the flu now at 1,099 daily final week. This time final 12 months it was simply 243.

Nonetheless, final 12 months’s flu season peaked a lot later, on the finish of January.

New weekly figures present the NHS goes into the winter underneath vital strain. Greater than a thousand beds have been occupied daily final week with adults affected by diarrhoea and vomiting bugs, and norovirus, peaking at 1,160 on Sunday. This in comparison with a mean of 591 each day instances in hospital this time final 12 months.

And there was a mean of 1,390 sufferers with COVID in hospital beds every day final week, and 142 youngsters in hospital every day with RSV, together with 756 sufferers with norovirus – an 86% enhance from a 12 months in the past.

The flu vaccine

Greater than 27 million vaccinations have taken place, with England’s chief medical officer amongst these urging folks to get the jab.

With instances “rising quickly”, college aged youngsters are among the many worst affected. Amongst these aged 5 to 14, nearly 17% of assessments constructive for flu – up from 11.5% final week.

NHS nationwide medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, mentioned: “The NHS is busier than it has ever been earlier than heading into winter, with flu and norovirus numbers in hospital rising sharply – and we’re nonetheless solely in the beginning of December, so we anticipate strain to extend and there’s a lengthy winter forward of us.

Learn extra: What’s the ‘quad-demic’ – and how are you going to shield your self?

“For some time there have been warnings of a ‘tripledemic’ of COVID, flu and RSV this winter, however with rising instances of norovirus this might quick change into a ‘quad-demic’ so it is necessary that if you have not had your COVID or flu jab to observe the lead of thousands and thousands of others and are available ahead and get protected as quickly as doable.”