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Surge In Flu Cases Leads To Excessive Death Toll In January
A high number of excess deaths has been recorded, as a result of a surge in the number of flu cases this year.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed 17,381 deaths were registered in the week leading to January 13th, which is nearly 3,000 more than typical for this period.
It also represents the highest number of excess deaths since February 2021, when the second wave of Covid-19 hit the UK. However, Covid-19 cannot be blamed entirely for the figures in early January, as it accounted for just 5.3 per cent of cases.
Another factor that is causing a rise in excess deaths is the number of flu infections that have occurred this winter. In fact, the Express reported that flu and pneumonia-related deaths caused a quarter of deaths during the first two weeks of January in England and Wales.
Earlier this month, the NHS revealed flu cases in hospital soared by 47 per cent in the week leading to New Year’s Day. What’s more, the number of people with flu taking up critical care beds rose by 26 per cent from the preceding week.
Indeed, 336 critical care beds were being used for patients with flu, in comparison with just 38 during the same week the previous year.
It is thought the high number of flu cases this year is the result of having two years of very low numbers, due to Covid-19 restrictions that prevented people from interacting with each other as much.
National medical director of the NHS Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “We knew this winter would be one of the most difficult in the history of the NHS.”
If you have flu and need to stock up on medication to relieve your symptoms, buy cold and flu sachets, have sufficient rest, and drink plenty of fluids.
