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Flu cases in the UK hit an all time low

  • Only 3.1% of people visited a GP with flu-like symptoms in early February
  • This is less than a tenth of the number expected to have sought treatment
  • Wet weather and high temperatures may have contributed to the decline
  • But Public Health England says may also be that fewer people saw their GP

By
John Hall
and Anna Hodgekiss


PUBLISHED:

04:12 EST, 20 February 2014

|
UPDATED:

06:35 EST, 20 February 2014

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Cases of seasonal flu have fallen to a record low in Britain – and the dismal wet weather may be to blame.

Only 3.1 per cent of people visited a GP with flu-like symptoms in the first week of February this year, according to Public Health England – less than a tenth of the number expected.

Figures show the virus has struggled to rise beyond summer levels over the last few months.

Fall: Only 3.1 per cent of people visited a GP with flu-like symptoms in the first week of February this year. This is less than a tenth of the number who would usually have sought treatment. (The large spike in 2010/11 is connected with swine flu)

One theory is that the wettest winter on
record has kept people away from public spaces, while mild temperatures
have boosted immune systems, resulting in fewer opportunities for germs
to spread.

Flu generally peaks before Christmas, especially in an epidemic year, but this winter the number of people suffering from the virus was comparable with a typical June, July and August.

Although some years see a significant spike in cases in late February, this is rare. The number of cases generally falls as the days get longer, making it highly likely this winter will break all records.

It’s not only flu that is on the decline – medical treatment for respiratory illness in general is predicted hit record lows by the end of winter.

The key factor in the improvement in respiratory health is thought to be a decline in smoking.

Tis the season: Flu and other respiratory illnesses peak in the winter months. Graph shows the dramatically lower number being reported by GPs this year

STAY INDOORS IF YOU HAVE THE FLU

Flu symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, a cough with a sore throat, and aching muscles and joints.

It
is advised that if you are otherwise healthy and are suffering from
flu, you should stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take pain
relievers such as paracetamol.

Children under 16 should not take any
medication containing aspirin.

Although we still see flu epidemics in Britain, news of the record low follows 40 years of continual decline in the impact of the virus.

Better hygiene, less pollution and increasing numbers of people willing to self-medicate are reasons put forward by experts, but the truth is nobody knows for certain why respiratory infections are falling.

Professor Nick Phin, a flu expert at Public Health England, told the Independent: ‘I suspect we are seeing a real reduction in flu, but whether it is on the scale of the GP consultation data is a moot point.’

‘There has been a change in behavior among patients, with more treating themselves at home instead of going to the GP. Even if the prevalence of flu had not changed that would lead to a fall in consultations.’

Got the bug: Although we still see flu epidemics in Britain, news of the record low follows 40 years of continual decline in the impact of the virus

Another reason put forward for the decline is an increase in vaccinations after the 2009 swine flu pandemic left 474 people dead. 

The picture is a stark contrast to last year. Last January doctors reported a massive increase in cases of the potentially deadly virus.

Health experts revealed that the number of people visiting their GPs had increased by almost 50 per cent in two weeks.

It came as the UK was recovering from the worst norovirus outbreak in years – with 1.1million people struck down by the winter vomiting bug.

And GP consultations soared in the winter of 2010/11 due to swine flu. The condition, which peaked in July 2009, caused over 1,000 deaths.

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Comments (55)

what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

Artemis,

Luton,

moments ago

It could be because the flu bugs got blown away or drowned in the recent storms.

Don Keeballs,

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands,

moments ago

Tory Government figures ??

Cityslacker,

Leeds,

8 minutes ago

They probably held off releasing the latest strain due to the state of the economy.

mailman99,

Eastbourne, United Kingdom,

11 minutes ago

Normally it comes to us from Asia and Australia so presumably they did not have epidemics.
From memory some of the strains covered by this years vaccine originated in America.

Terence,

Norfolk,

15 minutes ago

Probably because of constant whinging poster campiagn by the NHS telling us to stay away from the surgery if we have flu?

liamb23,

morecambe, England,

18 minutes ago

It’s because everywhere is flooded and no on can get anywhere !

Rae S.,

Missisisppi, United States,

35 minutes ago

So dont you think they should start injecting it into people or else the flu will become extinct? Thoughts???

jasmine,

s e, United Kingdom,

13 minutes ago

eh?

anon,

essex, United Kingdom,

37 minutes ago

Really thats why we have a had it in our house

porrige,

Dublin, Ireland,

38 minutes ago

At long last we now have the proof that the high levels of Vitamin D, that most people absorbed during our summer heat wave last summer are paying big dividends, our bodies took in large quantities of the hormone and it boosted our immune systems. If you ever needed any proof of how good this Vitamin is, here it is.

WonderingY,

Glasgow,

39 minutes ago

I’ve got it at the moment

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