British schools warn that “it seems like we are in corona time again” and have abolished communal singing en masse. At a school in South Wales, 242 children and 12 staff members have fallen ill.
High number of hospital admissions
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The flu mutation, known as H3N2, is responsible for a large number of hospital admissions, together with the norovirus and the RS virus. Last week there were an average of 1,700 patients in hospital with the flu virus. At least two branches of the National Health Service (NHS) have reported ‘critical incidents’, meaning they can no longer guarantee that every patient can be treated.
Vaccination
The NHS, meanwhile, is urging the British public to get vaccinated against flu. In London, the number of hospital admissions for flu has tripled in a short time. The organization is also struggling with threatened doctors’ strikes, which have been announced for December 15.
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In a number of hospitals, it is again mandatory to wear face masks in emergency departments. Sir Jim Mackey, the boss of England’s NHS, is warning of a “really big increase” in the number of infections, and that a “national response” may be necessary.
Nine mutations
The NHS is particularly concerned because the flu virus has mutated at least nine times this summer. The flu vaccine that is now available is therefore less effective. That vaccine is based on what the World Health Organization WHO recommended in February.