Health

Flu outbreak in UK is worst for nine years

by Sanjay Jha | December 24, 2008 at 04:28 am

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Britain is in severe grip of largest outbreak of flu for nine years, with GPs saying the situation is verging on an epidemic.Doctors say patient numbers have increased by three-quarters in the past week alone.

The situation is a logistical nightmare for the National Health Service, with hospitals normally reducing their staff and GPs closing their surgeries for the Christmas period.

The last big flu outbreak occurred in 1999/2000, when 22,000 people died, which is 10 times the average for a winter flu season.

The latest figures from the Royal College of GPs show 69 cases of flu in 100,000 population for this week. In the last two weeks, the rate has climbed steeply, from 28 in 100,000 two weeks ago, to 40 last week and now 69.

The rise is across all regions of the UK and all age groups, but it appears to be the young and middle-aged adults who are hit hardest. The rate has soared to 80 in 100,000 in the 15 to 44 age group and to 76 among 45 to 64-year-olds. These tend to be more socially active people - teenagers, young adults and workers who refuse to stay home when they feel ill.

The worsening outbreak will cause problems for the health service over the Christmas break, especially combined with the spread of the vomiting bug norovirus. These highly transmittable diseases are hitting hard at a time when GP practices will be closed and hospital staff reduced because of the holiday.