Dr Joanne Watson, Health and Care Strategy Director and Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, talks about flu and how you can stay well this winter.
Above: Dr Joanne Watson
This winter, the NHS reported a ‘tidal wave’ of flu infections in hospitals and in England. In just one week in December, the number of hospital cases increased by 70 per cent.
Across England during the same week, there was an average of 1,861 patients with flu in hospital every day, which is 3.5 times higher than the same time last year.
It is expected that the height of this season’s infections will continue for another month and peak in the next fortnight.
Flu is very unpleasant, and while it will often get better on its own in most people, it can make others seriously ill.
Symptoms present very quickly and can include a high temperature, aches, feeling tired, cough, sore throat, nausea, and a range of other symptoms.
To help ease the symptoms, it’s important to rest, stay hydrated, and keep warm. Paracetamol or ibuprofen can lower your temperature and treat aches and pains.
Some people may think that a doctor can prescribe antibiotics to help, but antibiotics are not effective against viruses—they work against bacteria. The antiviral medication (Tamiflu) is most effective before 48 hours of symptoms have passed.
Flu and other seasonal illnesses can have a big impact on our hospital and community services. People in hospital are already very ill, making them more at risk of becoming seriously ill with flu and/or impacting their recovery.
Whenever there is a rise in cases in our community, this also inevitably affects our staff who will need to take time off work while they recover.
Our infection control policies and procedures mean that wards may have to be closed when illnesses are present. This reduces the number of available beds as well as affects ward visiting policies.
People who are at risk of becoming seriously ill from flu are eligible to receive a free NHS vaccine. These include those who:
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are aged 65 or over
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have certain long-term conditions
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are pregnant
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live in a care home
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are the main carer for someone or receive a carer’s allowance
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live with someone with a weakened immune system
There is also a flu vaccine available for children, which is recommended for ages two or three, school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) and children aged six months to 17 years with some long-term health conditions. Most children will be offered the nasal spray flu vaccine as the preferred vaccine, but an injection can be made available.
Flu is very infectious and can easily spread from coughs and sneezes to other people. People are more infectious in the first five days, and germs can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
Washing your hands often with warm water and soap can help you avoid both catching flu and spreading it if you are already ill.
If you have flu, please cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (or use your hand or arm if you don’t have one). Wash hands after coughing or sneezing and bin used tissues as soon as possible.
Try to stay home and avoid contact with other people if you are symptomatic or don’t feel well enough to do your normal activities.
It isn’t just flu that is affecting hospitals. Norovirus cases are up almost two-thirds on last year’s figures. An increased number of children also need hospital care with RSV, while COVID-19 remains prevalent in our areas.
Seasonal COVID-19 vaccinations have been offered to people who are at an increased risk of becoming seriously ill from an infection.
The UK also offers a Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine to help pregnant women over 28 weeks to protect their newborn babies, along with a routine programme for 75 – 79 year-olds.
Find out more on the NHS’ winter vaccinations page.