Flu

[FRSM]

24 December 2010 Last updated at 12:30 Sharp rise in serious flu cases


There has been a 50% rise in the past three days in the number of seriously ill people in hospital with flu, figures show.

Department of Health data from Thursday showed that 460 intensive care beds in England were occupied by flu patients, compared to 302 on Monday.

But the total number of cases is in line with what would be expected.

However, vaccination rates are lower and questions are now being asked whether it was right not to run the annual vaccination advertising campaign
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Vaccination rates currently stand at 68.5% for the over 65s and 43% for younger groups that are in the at-risk categories. This is a fall from 70.4% and 48.6% at the same time last year.

It comes amid rising rates of flu. The number of people visiting their GPs with flu more than doubled last week and so far 27 people have died this winter, 24 of which had swine flu which is one of the three flu strains circulating this winter. That compares to nearly 500 who died with swine flu during last year's pandemic.

But this is still within the range that is expected during winter months and while there has been a sharp rise in the numbers in intensive care, the 460 figure still represents less than 14% of the total number of intensive care beds available......