Virus Spreads Beyond UK: Channel No Barrier

Virologists are also taking into account a flu epidemic in our country in the coming weeks. In other countries, including the United Kingdom, the number of infections is increasing. According to Ted van Essen, chairman of the Dutch Immunization Foundation, it is a matter of time before this variant also reaches the Netherlands.

“Flu does not stop at the Channel,” says Van Essen. “The number of cases is still limited here, but it is rising.” This is also evident from figures from Nivel, which keeps track of the number of flu cases among general practitioners. Last week, 40 out of 100,000 people had flu symptoms. If 46 out of 100,000 people have flu symptoms for two weeks in a row, it is an epidemic.

Two flu variants usually occur worldwide: H1N1, also called Mexican flu, and H3N2. These alternate. The variant currently circulating in England, H3N2, usually causes more severe complaints, according to Van Essen. People get fever more often and suffer more from coughing and sniffling. The symptoms are similar to those of a normal cold, but are usually more severe.

How sick someone becomes varies per person. “In some people the infection is mild, while others become seriously ill or even die,” says Van Essen. The elderly and those with underlying conditions are at greatest risk for complications and hospitalization.

According to Van Essen, it is almost certain that there will be another flu epidemic: “There was only no flu during the lockdowns during the corona period. That was the only time in my career as a doctor that I did not experience an epidemic.” The last major flu wave in our country was in 2018. An estimated 900,000 people fell ill with flu in the Netherlands. About 9,000 people died.

A major flu wave can also have an impact on hospitals. “Usually ten times that number is in the hospital,” says Van Essen: “If it is like 2018, that would amount to around 90,000 hospital admissions. Then a number of hospitals had to refuse patients because they were full.”

It is striking that, according to the WHO, the flu starts early this year. While the peak previously often occurred in January or February, more infections are now being reported in December. According to Van Essen, this underlines the importance of timely vaccination. The flu shot is therefore offered in November, because it takes about two weeks for optimal protection to be achieved.

The vaccine provides about 35 percent protection against disease and 40 percent against hospitalization. “That seems limited,” says Van Essen, “but because large numbers of people become infected, this also prevents many cases.”

Yet the vaccination rate in the Netherlands is declining. About four million people got a flu shot this year, while six million are eligible. This is especially worrying for the elderly. “People with influenza have a six times greater risk of a heart attack,” says Van Essen.

And Christmas? Anyone who has complaints is advised to be careful and avoid contact with vulnerable people if they have cold or flu symptoms. “The virus can be slightly more contagious and make people slightly sicker,” says Van Essen. “But the vaccine works just as well as in other years.”