Three times more people dying from flu in UK than last winter

Death toll from virus hits 155, with 35 people dying last week alone

Three times as many people are dying of flu this winter compared with last year, with the UK death toll from the virus hitting 155, figures show.

Last week saw a big jump in the number of people hospitalised with the disease, and further increases in those being treated in critical care units or visiting a GP with flu-like symptoms.

A combination of factors are at play. Hospitals have fewer beds than last year, so they are less able to deal with the recent, ongoing surge in illness. Last week, for example, the bed occupancy rate at 17 of England’s 153 acute hospital trusts was 98% or more, with the fullest – Walsall healthcare trust – 99.9% occupied.

Continue reading... January 25, 2018 at 10:43PM