Flu Infections Recede in England According to Latest Health Reports
Latest health data shows that current flu prevalence levels in England have begun to decline, according to the national flu and COVID-19 surveillance report issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), covering the period up to last Sunday.
Despite this, the agency recommended caution and alertness, noting that while this decline constitutes positive news close to Christmas, it pointed to the possibility of the virus returning again at the beginning of the New Year. The British health agency utilizes a variety of indicators to monitor flu infection rates, including testing samples related to the disease in hospitals and GP practices.
In a related context, the latest figures announced by the UKHSA explained that the virus is currently circulating at a “medium level.” It is noteworthy that similar trends of recession are being witnessed in other parts of the United Kingdom, as Public Health Scotland confirmed observing a decline in cases for two consecutive months.
These current flu levels come after the British health agency announced last week that the spread had stabilized, following weeks of recording a continuous rise in the number of infected individuals. This year’s flu season began very early, driven by a virus variant mutation that raised concerns about the pressure health centers and hospitals might face.
The report mentioned that the specific weekly statistics for hospital admissions in England were not published this week. However, there are indications within the UKHSA’s sample test results suggesting a beginning of a decline in the number of infected persons admitted to hospitals, suggesting that assumptions regarding record-breaking case numbers during the festive period did not materialize as feared.
Dr. Jamie Lopez Bernal, an infectious disease expert at the UK Health Security Agency, noted that this news represents “encouraging news.” However, he added: “The virus is still very much present, and everyone, especially those considered among the groups most vulnerable to winter illnesses, needs to exercise the utmost caution to stay safe or to help avoid passing the virus to others.”
He continued: “This is particularly important during the Christmas season, as families gather together. Therefore, if you have symptoms similar to a cold or flu, it is preferable to distance yourself from others as much as possible.”
During periods of indoor mixing, Dr. Bernal pointed to simple steps we can all take to protect each other. He explained: “Regular handwashing and ensuring good ventilation of indoor spaces help, and we advise symptomatic people who must go out to wear a face covering in indoor public places. These simple measures can contribute to reducing the spread.”
Dr. Bernal added: “The flu is always unpredictable; it remains in flux and can return strongly, even more severely, in the New Year, as we have seen in previous years.”
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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