The flu outbreak caused by the new Covid variant running rife in the UK

By Maggie On Dec 2, 2022

The flu outbreak caused by the new Covid variant running rife in the UK will cause a spike in cases. Health officials warn that a NEW Covid variant has taken hold and could lead to an increase in cases, placing additional strain on the NHS.

Infections caused by the BQ1 Omicron offshoot now account for 50.4% of all infections, up from 39% last week.

It occurs at a time when NHS statistics indicate a slight increase in the number of hospital patients who test positive for Covid, with 4,964 cases reported as of November 30, an 8% increase from the prior week.

Additionally, the number of hospital patients with influenza has increased “significantly,” by 44% in one week to 586.

One in seven patients must wait more than an hour to enter A&E, and ambulance delays are already at all-time highs.

We anticipate this winter to be the most difficult one yet for the NHS, said Professor Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England.

As Christmas approaches, the flu will spread more widely in the neighborhood and more people will require hospital admission.

The number of patients who use Covid is also beginning to rise.

There is a new variant in circulation called BQ1, which is quickly taking over and is probably what will cause further increases.

There has already been an increase in hospital admissions in some of the affected European nations.

JABS PLEA

It occurs almost exactly one year to the day after the discovery of the kinder Omicron strain.

Earlier this year, at the height of the wave of infections brought on by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants, patient levels exceeded 14,000.

This was significantly lower than the levels observed at the peak of the pandemic when fewer people had received vaccinations.

Omicron is less aggressive than earlier strains, such as the original Wuhan variant, Alpha, and Delta, according to studies.

The UKHSA’s director of public health initiatives, Dr. Mary Ramsay, urged people to get their booster shots, stating that “as people mix more indoors, we would expect to see the prevalence of Covid and other winter viruses begin to increase.”

The data is starting to indicate this, she continued.

“Covid hospitalizations are most common in older age groups, so it is especially important that everyone who is eligible for their booster shot comes forward to receive it.”

While influenza A (CoVid-19) and the flu may be mild infections for some people, we must not lose sight of the fact that they can result in serious illness or even death in our most vulnerable neighbors.

NHS UNDER PRESSURE

Hospitals are crumbling under pressure as nurses and paramedics prepare to strike this month.

Figures show 11,389 ambulances were held outside for 60 minutes or more last week – and a third of all arrivals wait at least half an hour.

Clogged wards have just four in every 100 beds free for new patients in England.

Around 13,400 beds per day – 14 percent of the total – are blocked by people who are healthy enough to go home but do not have care.

And staff shortages reached another record high in September, with 47,496 empty nurse posts making a third of the total 133,446 vacancies.