England Flu Admissions Hit Record 1,717 Weekly Average

Hospital admissions for influenza in England have reached a record high for this time of year, with an average of 1,717 patients occupying beds daily last week, including 69 in critical care, according to the first NHS winter situation report of 2025. This figure marks a 56 percent increase from the same period in 2024, when 1,098 flu patients were hospitalized, 39 of them in critical care. The surge exceeds early-season levels from prior years, surpassing 243 patients in 2023 and 772 in 2022.

Health officials attribute the early and intense wave to the aggressive H3N2 strain, which has caused more severe illnesses characterized by higher fevers, often exceeding 38 degrees Celsius, and a greater risk of complications such as sepsis. The season began unusually early this year and shows no signs of peaking, prompting warnings that hospitals will face mounting pressure as social gatherings increase ahead of Christmas. Australia's recent record flu season, also driven by H3N2, has heightened concerns among UK experts about a potentially severe winter.

While flu cases dominate, other respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses present a mixed picture. Admissions for COVID-19 averaged...