Flu outbreak could reach epidemic in two weeks – as 8.3 million hit by bug and 120 lose their lives

MORE than a hundred people have lost their lives to flu so far this winter as eight million are hit by the bug, new figures reveal.

In the last week flu deaths have soared by 41 per cent with 17 new fatalities - bringing the total deaths this winter to 120, new figures confirmed today.

Last week more than 4,500 people were admitted to hospital with flu - up 11 per cent on the previous seven days.

More than 60 per cent (2,754 patients) were suffering influenza B, the vast majority caused by Japanese flu, the latest figures reveal.

Another 361 people were admitted with deadly Aussie flu, with 20 fighting for their lives in intensive care with the H3N2 strain.

Some 8.3 million people are thought to have been struck down by flu over the past week, according to the online tool FluSurvey.

According to the Royal College of GPs flu admissions across the UK are up 150 per cent since the start of 2018, according to their data.

About 31,000 patients visited their doctor with flu-like symptoms between January 8-14, a rise of more than 9,000 on the previous week.

It takes the total to more than 1.7m patients seen by GPS so far this flu season.

The worst hit regions include Birmingham, Norwich, Nottingham, Manchester, York, Newcastle, Bristol, Portsmouth and Canterbury, their data shows.

Flusurvey relies on 7,500 members of the public reporting when they are suffering flu-like symptoms - so the true number of flu cases is likely to be higher.

An epidemic can only be declared by the Chief Medical Officer for England, Dame Sally Davies -  and GP consultations would need to reach a rate of more than 100 cases per 100,000 people.

FLU-ED UP What is Japanese flu, what are the symptoms of the virus and how can you avoid the bug?

The latest statistics from Public Health England, published today, show the rate of GP consultations for the flu have reached 53 per 100,000.

Among those have fallen victim to the deadly bug is Bethany Walker, from Applecross in the Scottish Highlands, 18, who lost her life to flu after developing pneumonia.

The 18-year-old was airlifted to hospital in Inverness, where she passed away last Friday, after falling ill at home in the Scottish Highlands.

Health officials renewed their pleas for people to have the flu jab, adding "it's not too late to protect yourself and your family".

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the RCGP, said: “General practice continues to face huge winter pressures with a significant increase in patients presenting with influenza, and high numbers of patients continuing to present with other common winter illnesses.

“The best prevention for flu, other than observing good hygienic practices, such as regular hand washing, is for people, particularly those in at-risk groups, including patients with long-term conditions and pregnant women, to get their flu jab.

“If someone does have the flu, unfortunately there is no cure, but patients can assist their own recovery through taking plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids as it is easy to become dehydrated.

“We do encourage patients who are ill to think hard about whether they do need to see a GP – not just in terms of reducing pressures on the NHS, but to minimise the possibility of passing viruses, such as flu, to other people, particularly in at-risk groups, such as those with long-term conditions or pregnant women.”

Professor Paul Cosford, medical director of Public Health England said: “Our data continues to show that more people are visiting GPs with flu symptoms and we are seeing more people admitted to hospital with flu.

“In terms of hospital admission, this is the most significant flu season since the winter of 2010/11 and the preceding pandemic year of 2009, although it is not an epidemic.

“We are currently seeing a mix of flu types, including the H3N2 strain that circulated last winter in the UK and then in Australia.

“The best form of protection against flu is to get the vaccine if you are eligible and to practice good respiratory and hand hygiene.”

Experts warned last week that Japanese flu is rife, posing a particular threat to kids.

Kids are known as "super-spreaders" because they pick up and pass on infections to their family.

Of 180 flu tests carried out by Public Health England so far this winter, 63 tested positive for Aussie flu, 63 identified the strain of influenza B known as Japanese flu, while 50 detected swine flu.

While Japanese flu appears to be infecting more people across the UK, Aussie flu poses a greater threat, experts warn.

England's top doctor, professor Dame Sally Davies, said the virus poses a real threat.

She said: "Flu can kill and it is important we all take it seriously.

"The best way to protect yourself and those around you is to get the flu jab.

"If you're suffering from flu-like symptoms you should catch your coughs or sneezes in tissues, bin the tissue immediately, and wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water."

The surge in flu cases is putting more pressure on hospitals amid one of the worst NHS winter crises in years.

Flu combined with rising levels of norovirus - the winter vomiting bug - are compounding the problem, with sick Brits forced to wait longer at A&Es across the country.

Experts have told The Sun Online Aussie flu symptoms are likely to be more severe than swine flu, which triggered the last major flu pandemic in the winter of 2009/10.