Category: Flu Virus

When it comes to the flu, you already know its important to get vaccinated. But did you know its not too late for this season?

Some patients think that if they havent gotten the flu shot by now, there is no point in doing sobut thats not true, said Michael Ben-Aderet, MD, associate director of Hospital Epidemiology. The flu season is still in full force, so if youre eligible for the flu vaccine but havent gotten it yet, please do so.

Vaccination doesnt guarantee you wont get the flu, but it can make your symptoms less severe if you do get sick. More good news: The flu vaccine is not the only tool at your disposal. If you do catch the flu, the antiviral drug Tamiflu can help, as long as you start taking it within 72 hours after youve been diagnosed.

Tamiflu, in specific circumstances, can be used to prevent flu infection if you have been exposed. It can sometimes stop the flu virus from growing, shorten your recovery time by one to two days or can reduce symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, aches and chills. Over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin can also lessen pain and fever.

While not a substitute for vaccination, Tamiflu is an important medication for people with risk factors for severe disease who are sick with influenza or have been exposed. You can also use over-the-counter meds for relief of fever or pain. Ultimately, vaccination combined with treatment if you get sick is the best bet for keeping you healthy and feeling like yourself, said Ben-Aderet.

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Flu and RSV: How to Protect Yourself Now - Cedars-Sinai

February began with influenza remaining a public health concern in Butte-Silver Bow County.

We are still seeing an increase in activity, said Karen Maloughney, BSN, RN, health officer for the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department.

Karen Maloughney, BSN, RN, health officer for Butte-Silver Bow County.

If have people have not gotten their influenza vaccine, they should, she said. If exposed to the influenza virus, a vaccinated individual generally has less severe symptoms and will usually avoid hospitalization.

Maloughney said vaccinated people with influenza can still spread the illness to others, so they should avoid the public if symptomatic.

In the U.S., flu season usually occurs in the fall and winter. Although influenza viruses spread year-round, most of the time flu activity peaksbetween December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Maloughney said COVID-19 and RSV are also circulating, and both have vaccines available.

They can be received in conjunction with the influenza vaccine if eligible, Maloughney said.Respiratory illnesses arent something to take lightly and prevention is key.

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiration virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC reports that most people recover from RSV in a week or two, but the virus can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization. If you are age 60 or older, a vaccine is available to protect you from severe RSV.

Maloughney said the health department has heard anecdotal reports of illnesses circulating that cause nausea and vomiting.

The best defense with this type of illness is good, thorough hand washing with soap and water, she said.Also, staying home for two days after symptoms have resolved will help stop the spread of these types of illnesses.

Maloughney encouraged people to make sure that vaccinations for themselves and their children are up to date.

If people have questions about their vaccination record or to make an appointment to get caught up, they can call 406-497-5020, she said.

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Flu virus remains active in Butte-Silver Bow County - The Montana Standard

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In Arnold Montos ideal vision of this fall, the United States flu vaccines would be slated for some serious changebooting a major ingredient that theyve consistently included since 2013. The component isnt dangerous. And it made sense to use before. But to include it again now, Monto, an epidemiologist and a flu expert at the University of Michigan, told me, would mean vaccinating people against something that doesnt exist.

That probably nonexistent something is Yamagata, a lineage of influenza B viruses that hasnt been spotted by global surveyors since March of 2020, shortly after COVID mitigations plummeted flu transmission to record lows. And it isnt for lack of looking, Kanta Subbarao, the director of the WHOs Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, told me. In a last-ditch attempt to find the missing pathogen, a worldwide network of monitoring centers tested nearly 16,000 influenza B virus samples collected from February to August of last year. Not a single one of them came up Yamagata. The consensus is that its gone, Cheryl Cohen, the head of South Africas Centre for Respiratory Diseases and Meningitis, told me. Officially removing an ingredient from flu vaccines will codify that sentiment, effectively publishing Yamagatas obituary.

Read: The flu may never be the same

Last year around this time, Subbarao told me, the WHO was already gently suggesting that the world might want to drop Yamagata from vaccines; by September, the agency had grown insistent, describing the ingredient as no longer warranted and urging that every effort should be made to exclude it as soon as possible. The following month, an advisory committee to the FDA unanimously voted to speedily adopt that same change.

But the switch from a four-flu vaccine to a trivalent one, guarding against only three, isnt as simple as ordering the usual, please, just hold the Yams. Trivalent vaccines require their own licensure, which some manufacturers may have allowed to lapseor never had at all; manufacturers must also adhere to the regulatory pipelines specific to each country. People think, They change the strains every season; this should be no big deal, Paula Barbosa, the associate director of vaccine policy at the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations, which represents vaccine manufacturers, told me. This situation is not so simple: They need to change their whole manufacturing process. At the FDA advisory-committee meeting in October, an industry representative cautioned that companies might need until the 202526 season to fully transition to trivalents in the Northern Hemisphere, a timeline that Barbosa, too, considers realistic. The South could take until 2026.

In the U.S., though, where experts such as Monto have been pushing for expedient change, a Yamagata-less flu vaccine could be coming this fall. When I reached out to CSL Seqirus and GSK, two of the worlds major flu-vaccine producers, a spokesperson from each company told me that their firm was on track to deliver trivalent vaccines to the U.S. in time for the 202425 flu season, should the relevant agencies recommend and request it. (The WHOs annual meeting to recommend the composition of the Northern Hemispheres flu vaccine isnt scheduled until the end of February; an FDA advisory meeting on the same topic will follow shortly after.) Sanofi, another vaccine producer, was less definitive, but told me that, with sufficient notice from health authorities, its plans would allow for trivalent vaccines this year, if there is a definitive switch. AstraZeneca, which makes the FluMist nasal-spray vaccine, told me that it was engaging with the appropriate regulatory bodies to coordinate the shift to a trivalent vaccine as soon as possible.

Quadrivalent flu vaccines are relatively new. Just over a decade ago, the world relied on immunizations that included two flu A strains (H1N1 and H3N2), plus one B: either Victoria or Yamagata, whichever scientists predicted might be the bigger scourge in the coming flu season. Sometimes the world got it wrong, Mark Jit, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told me. To hedge their bets, experts eventually began to recommend simply sticking in both. But quadrivalent vaccines typically cost more to manufacture, experts told me. And although several countries, including the U.S., quickly transitioned to the heftier shots, many nationsespecially those with fewer resourcesnever did.

Now the extra component is a waste, Vijay Dhanasekaran, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong, told me. Its pointless to ask peoples bodies to mount a defense against an enemy that will never attack. Trimming Yamagata out of flu-vaccine recipes should also make them cheaper, Dhanasekaran said, which could improve global access. Plus, continuing to manufacture Yamagata-focused vaccines raises the small but serious risk that the lineage could be inadvertently reintroduced to the world, Subbarao told me, as companies grow gobs of the virus for their production pipeline. (Some vaccines, such as FluMist, also immunize people with live-but-weakened versions of flu viruses.)

Some of the researchers I spoke with for this article werent ready to rule out the possibilityhowever slimthat Yamagata is still biding its time somewhere. (Victoria, a close cousin of Yamagata, and the other B lineage that pesters people, once went mostly quiet for about a decade, before roaring back in the early aughts.) But most experts, at this point, are quite convinced. The past couple of flu seasons have been heavy enough to offer even a rather rare lineage the chance to reappear. If it had been circulating in any community, Im pretty sure that global influenza surveillance would have detected it by now, Dhanasekaran said. Plus, even before the pandemic began, Yamagata had been the wimpiest of the flu bunch, Jit told me: slow to evolve, crummy at transmitting, and already dipping in prevalence. When responses to the pandemic starved all flu viruses of hosts, he said, this lineage was the likeliest to be lost.

Read: The pandemic broke the flu

Eventually, companies may return to including four types of flu in their products, swapping in, say, another strain of H3N2, the most severe and fastest-evolving of the buncha change that Subbarao and Monto both told me might actually be preferable. But incorporating a second H3N2 is even more of a headache than returning to a trivalent vaccine: Researchers would likely first need to run clinical trials, experts told me, to ensure that the new components played nicely with each other and conferred additional benefits.

For the moment, a slimmed-down vaccine is the quickest way to keep up with the flus current antics. And in doing so, those vaccines will also reflect the strange reality of this new, COVID-modified world. A whole lineage of flu has probably been eliminated through changes in human behavior, Jit told me. Humanity may not have intended it. But our actions against one virus may have forever altered the course of another.

Originally posted here:

Flu Shots Need to Stop Fighting 'Something That Doesn't Exist' - The Atlantic

Most people make a full recovery from the stomach flu without any complications. Getting enough rest and staying hydrated with clear liquids are beneficial, and easy-to-digest foods may be best.

Nobody likes getting sick, but the stomach flu delivers its own brutal mix of symptoms. When it hits, it can quickly render you nonfunctional and utterly miserable (i.e., lying on the bathroom floor within constant reach of the sink or toilet).

The initial stages start with chills, fever, and nausea, which transition into vomiting, diarrhea, and severe aches and pains. Its awful, and there is no cure. Stomach flu has to run its course.

That said, the remedies below may relieve the most difficult symptoms and help get you back on your feet once the toughest phase subsides.

Fluids are critically important since you lose vital bodily fluids through sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea.

If youre having trouble keeping liquids down, try taking small sips at regular intervals or chewing ice chips.

The best fluids to drink are:

Most likely, you wont be in the mood for these during a bout of stomach flu anyway, but avoid:

All of these things can also upset your stomach.

Keeping food down can be difficult with the stomach flu. Dont force yourself to eat if the mere thought of food makes you cringe. When you do finally feel you can get something down, its best to start slow and simple.

The BRAT diet bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast can be your go-to for an uneasy stomach. These four foods are easy to digest, contain carbohydrates to give you energy, and replenish nutrients:

Generally, avoid dairy, fibrous foods, and anything fatty or spicy.

Acupressure has been shown to be effective in treating some types of nausea. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center suggests finding pressure point P-6 by measuring the width of three fingers down from the bottom of your palm.

Press below that width with your thumb, and youll feel a sensitive spot between two tendons. Gently massage with your thumb for two or three minutes.

Get plenty of sleep and reduce the amount of activity you normally do during the day. This means lounging on the couch when youre not in bed.

While youre resting, your body works hard to fight off the infection and repair damage on the cellular level.

The stomach flu cant be cured by medications, and antibiotics wont help when a virus is the culprit.

For fever or aches, ibuprofen (Advil) can help, as long as it doesnt cause you to have more of an upset stomach. It can also be hard on your kidneys if you get dehydrated. Take it sparingly and with food. Children should only take ibuprofen after 6 months of age.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is often recommended for the stomach flu unless you have liver disease. It relieves fever and aches, has fewer side effects than ibuprofen, and is less likely to irritate your stomach.

Your doctor may prescribe an antiemetic such as promethazine, prochlorperazine, metoclopramide, or ondansetron to stop the nausea and vomiting.

You can also try an over-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal medication, such as loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol). That said, as your doctor first because it can interact with other medications.

In addition, OTC antidiarrheal medications are not recommended for children because they contain salicylate, which can cause Reyes syndrome.

As terrible as it is to get the stomach flu yourself, its even harder to watch your child go through it. If your infants symptoms havent subsided in a day or two, take them to the doctor.

Their doctor can make sure your child is on their way to recovery without any complications. They can also check to ensure no other causes for their symptoms.

Encouraging children to continue to take sips of water (or, in infants, breast milk or formula) to replace lost fluids is important to prevent dehydration. All infants and toddlers can also drink an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte.

The stomach flu (also known as gastroenteritis) can be caused by a number of different viruses that can attack your gastrointestinal system. Its not caused by the influenza virus, which gives you the seasonal flu.

Less often, bacteria can cause it, typically due to contaminated water or food that was prepared inadequately or in an unhygienic environment.

Note that children can experience symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea from influenza (the flu), which is different than the stomach flu. Its important to see their pediatrician to determine the cause of the symptoms.

If you know the stomach flu is going around, take extra precautions. Avoid close contact with people who are sick if at all possible, and wash your hands frequently.

Here are additional methods of prevention:

The stomach flu is contagious. Symptoms appear one to three days after exposure to the virus, so youre contagious before developing symptoms.

And even after youve recovered from your symptoms, you can remain contagious for up to two weeks. Children can remain contagious for an even longer period afterward.

How long the stomach flu lasts depends on the specific virus causing it, but its generally a few days to a week in most cases.

In most cases, the stomach flu just has to run its course. That said, drinking fluids and taking over-the-counter medications such as ch as loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) can help keep you more comfortable while youre recovering. Do not give these medications to children, and ask your doctor before trying them.

While the stomach flu is definitely not a pleasant experience, most people make a full recovery without any complications. Staying hydrated throughout the course of the illness can be the biggest challenge.

Theres not much to do for the stomach flu except wait it out and use the above remedies.

Seek medical attention if you havent been able to keep down liquids for 24 hours, are showing any signs of dehydration, are vomiting blood, have bloody diarrhea, or have a fever above 102F (38C).

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5 Best Remedies for the Stomach Flu - Healthline

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MassWildlife has received reports of dead Canada geese in Essex County and the surrounding coastal areas. (Herald file photo)

Canada geese are reportedly dropping dead in parts of the Bay State, as the bird flu virus spreads around the region.

MassWildlife over the past few days has gotten reports of dead and dying Canada geese in Essex County and the surrounding coastal areas.

These wild birds showed symptoms that are in line with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Several samples have been collected for bird flu testing, and results are pending.

This comes as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been detected in Essex County, according to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Division of Animal Health.

State agencies have depopulated and disposed of a non-commercial, mixed-species backyard flock (non-poultry) in Essex County due to the virus. Birds at the site died suddenly without exhibiting any other clinical signs consistent with the virus, and samples tested positive for the disease.

MDAR advises backyard and commercial poultry owners to practice strong biosecurity measures to prevent domestic poultry from having contact with wild birds, their feathers, and droppings, the state agency said.

The HPAI virus is continuing to circulate in the wild bird population, particularly in wild waterfowl, MDAR added. Eliminating standing water and preventing domestic birds from having access to ponds, streams, and wetland areas that attract wild waterfowl is of critical importance.

While people are rarely infected with avian influenza viruses, humans who have prolonged close contact with sick or dead birds infected with the virus are at highest risk of becoming infected.

Officials are urging the public not to handle or feed any birds suspected of being infected, MDAR said. Pet owners should also prevent their dogs from making contact with wild birds.

People can report sick or dead domestic birds by calling 617-626-1795 or online via the Poultry Disease Reporting Form: http://www.mass.gov/forms/poultry-disease-reporting-form.

Also, people can report sick or dead wild birds online at http://www.mass.gov/forms/report-observations-of-dead-wild-birds.

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Canada geese are reportedly dropping dead in Massachusetts, birds testing positive for avian influenza - Boston Herald

The Importance of Periodic Replacement of Influenza Vaccine Viruses

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. To protect against this disease, vaccines are regularly updated due to the continuous evolution of influenza viruses. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health agencies monitor these changes and make recommendations for the composition of influenza vaccines, ensuring their effectiveness against the most recent strains.

As part of its mandate, the WHO conducts biannual consultations with an advisory group of experts to analyze surveillance data on influenza virus evolution. These experts then issue recommendations for the composition of influenza vaccines for the upcoming flu season. For instance, the WHO consultation for the 2024-2025 Northern Hemisphere influenza season will provide crucial guidance for the development, production, and licensing of influenza vaccines by national regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies. These consultations serve as an essential step in maintaining the ongoing effectiveness of influenza vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States utilizes three key indicators to assess the severity of each flu season: influenza-like illness (ILI) outpatient visits, flu-related hospitalizations, and flu deaths. The severity classification can range from low to very high based on the highest weekly values observed for each indicator. The data sources for this assessment include the U.S. Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet), Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network (FluSurv-NET), and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Mortality Surveillance Data. These assessments can change as the season progresses, thus highlighting the necessity of timely and effective vaccination.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has developed a core protocol for studies of COVID-19 and influenza vaccine effectiveness. This protocol, built upon lessons learned from the ECDC-funded I-MOVE Influenza Monitoring Vaccine Effectiveness in Europe project, aims to provide more statistical power by combining data from multiple sites. The proposed method is a case-control study using a test-negative design, with the study population consisting of individuals hospitalized with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) symptoms and no contraindication for vaccination. These studies play a vital role in informing vaccine development and distribution strategies.

The CDC also provides a Weekly Influenza Vaccination Dashboard that offers preliminary weekly flu vaccination data. This dashboard contains data on vaccine doses distributed, coverage for various demographics, and vaccination rates among specific populations like healthcare personnel. The information provided by this dashboard is critical in understanding the reach and effectiveness of influenza vaccination efforts, emphasizing the importance of flu vaccination for everyone six months and older, especially those at higher risk of serious complications from influenza.

The periodic replacement of influenza vaccine viruses is essential in ensuring the ongoing effectiveness of vaccines against this ever-evolving disease. Through rigorous surveillance, analysis, and consultation, health organizations worldwide continue to work together to protect global health against the threat of influenza. The collaborative efforts in monitoring influenza virus evolution, assessing flu season severity, studying vaccine effectiveness, and tracking vaccination coverage are fundamental components of this crucial health initiative.

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The Importance of Periodic Replacement of Influenza Vaccine Viruses - Medriva

A study has found that the combination of terpenes, an organic compound found in cannabis and other plants, and cannabidiol (CBD) acted as an effective barrier in preventing cells from infection from both the coronavirus and influenza A virus in cells. This two-year study, led by Richard Boxer, MD, clinical professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, in collaboration with scientists in Israel, discovered that terpenes exhibit anti-inflammatory properties through cytokine inhibition, which was further boosted by the presence of CBD.

Viral infections continue to be a significant cause of illness and death. The pursuit of antiviral treatments with minimal toxicity and limited side effects is critical. The rapid mutations occurring in both coronaviruses and influenza viruses underscore the urgent need for the development of effective antiviral drugs. Additionally, the effectiveness of vaccinations diminishes over time, and certain populations lack access to vaccines. The authors say a natural and safe antiviral solution could prove beneficial as a protective measure, especially for those who may not be eligible for vaccination.

Researchers introduced terpenes into human lung cell cultures, exposing some to influenza viruses and others to a coronavirus variant like the one causing COVID-19. The terpenes acted as a barrier, preventing these viruses from entering the cells. This protected the cells from destruction and hindered the replication of the virus. In additional experiments where cells were infected with coronavirus and influenza, terpenes successfully prevented the cytokine storm responsible for severe lung damage and, ultimately, death in patients.

The findings suggest that terpenes could serve as an effective solution for preventing individuals from contracting the coronavirus or influenza. Researchers highlight that terpenes are present in all plants globally, making them readily available and affordable. For populations without access to or resources to afford vaccinations or medications like Paxlovid, a treatment based on the use of these compounds could reduce the impact of these diseases.

The studys authors are Richard Boxer of UCLA, Lior Chatow and Einat Zelinger of Hebrew University, and Adi Nudel, Nadav Eyal, Tal Lupo, Silvia Ramirez, and Iris Nesher of Eybna Technologies.

The study is published in the peer-reviewed journal Biotechnology Reports.

Lior Chatow, Nadav Eyal, Silvia Ramirez, and Adi Nudel are employees of Eybna Technologies, a company that manufactures terpenes-based formulations. Iris Nesher and Richard Boxer are advisors of Eybna Technologies.

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Terpenes and CBD may reduce inflammation and fight viruses such as COVID-19 and the flu - UCLA Health Connect

When the stomach flu hits, you know how miserable it can be to try to eat anything. But even if you feel like a zombie, you are, in fact, still human. And humans need food and fluids to recover.

But when youre in the throes of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea from the stomach flu, food may be the last thing on your mind. After all, it can be tough to imagine getting anything down when youve seen it coming back up so recently. And thats OK.

If youre down with a stomach bug and dont feel like eating yet, dont push it, family physician Laura Lipold, MD, says. Try to focus first on recovering, resting and staying hydrated. Food can come later.

But what should you drink and eat when you have the stomach flu? And when? And what will make matters worse? Dr. Lipold shares advice to get you back on your feet again.

The stomach flu otherwise known as viral gastroenteritis is an entirely different beast from the common flu, or influenza. Influenza is a respiratory virus. It comes with symptoms like coughs, fevers and a runny or stuffy nose.

The stomach flu is the one that has you reaching for the bucket or running to the bathroom.

And the biggest problem with the stomach flu is that vomiting and diarrhea deplete your bodys fluids. That leaves you at risk for dehydration, which can really complicate things. So, when the stomach flu hits, food isnt your first concern. Keeping up your fluids is.

Severe dehydration could mean a trip to the hospital to receive IV fluids. So, its important to try to stay hydrated if you can, Dr. Lipold shares.

Wait until about two hours have passed since your last episode of vomiting, and start with small, frequent sips so as not to overwhelm your belly. Dr. Lipold suggests:

For most people, itll take several hours after youve finished vomiting before food seems even remotely appealing.

But after things begin to settle down, your body will start giving you a gentle nudge that its feeding time again.

Wait until youre able to keep down fluids before trying to eat foods. And even then, youll want to tread slowly and be thoughtful about how you begin to refuel. The right foods can help your body recover. The wrong ones can cause cramping and stomach pain or send you racing back to the bathroom all over again.

I always advise people to eat only when they feel up to it when they have the stomach flu and even then, stick to small meals and snacks at first, Dr. Lipold says. If youre still actively vomiting or having a hard time keeping down clear fluids, its not the time to try to eat yet.

She shares some examples of easy-on-the-belly foods for when youre fighting the stomach flu.

Some of the best foods for the stomach flu are foods that are soft, bland and easy to digest. When youre coming off a bout of nausea and diarrhea, your belly will be happiest if it doesnt have to work too hard.

Thats when the BRAT diet comes into play. BRAT stands for:

The BRAT diet may not be the most exciting or enticing menu perhaps. But mild and easy on the belly? Absolutely.

Thats because these foods are good sources of complex carbohydrates, which are gentle on your stomach and some of the best choices to start to replace nutrients you lost in your (many) trips to the bathroom.

Complex carbohydrates digest slowly into your bloodstream, so they can help your body recover without putting too much effort on your taxed GI system, Dr. Lipold explains. They also contain vitamins, minerals and fiber that your body needs.

In addition to the BRAT diet, other complex carbs for stomach flu recovery include:

Foods that have high water content can also help as you start to recover from the stomach flu. Theyll also help rehydrate you at the same time. Try foods like:

Ginger can help ease the way that food travels through your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which can help calm your vomiting reflex.

Some good sources of ginger for stomach flu relief include:

What about the famous ginger ale fix? Not likely to help.

Many people stand by ginger ale as a remedy for nausea, but in truth, it doesnt contain enough real ginger to actually settle your stomach any better than other clear liquids, Dr. Lipold reports. And the carbonation can make bloating, gas and indigestion worse.

What you dont eat can be as important as what you do eat when you have the stomach flu. Some foods can be too much for your already overworked belly.

While youre recovering, youll want to avoid foods that burden your GI tract. That includes things like:

Prolonged nausea and vomiting can take a big toll on your body. Talk with a healthcare provider if you:

The best way to recover from the stomach flu is with plenty of rest and plenty of liquids. Eat when you can, and take it easy. Your body has been through a lot.

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What Should You Eat When You Have the Stomach Flu? - Health Essentials

1 February 2024

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The number of people in hospital with flu and norovirus has hit a new high for this winter in England.

Latest NHS figures show 2,226 beds were taken up by flu patients each day last week, up 70% in a month.

But the number in hospital with Covid dipped slightly, and surveillance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showed rates were "broadly stable".

The NHS said the data showed it was still "in the thick of a challenging winter".

"Last week was evidence of why the NHS needed to grow its core bed numbers," said Prof Julian Redhead, NHS England's clinical director for urgent and emergency care.

The NHS said this month that it had met its target to increase the number of core hospital beds in England by 5,000 to 99,864.

But the latest data shows 96% of adult beds were still full last week, above the 85% level seen as safe by the World Health Organization.

NHS performance figures also showed that 34% of hospital patients in England arriving by ambulance in the week to 18 January had to wait more than 30 minutes to be handed over to A&E doctors.

That was up from 32% in the previous week, and the joint highest rate so far this winter.

It comes as a number of hospitals, including Shrewsbury, Winchester and Stoke have declared critical incidents recently because of "sustained pressure" on services, allowing them to request assistance from neighbouring NHS trusts.

The latest figures show the winter flu season appears to have come later this year with the number needing hospital treatment continuing to rise.

Common symptoms in adults include a sudden high temperature, aches, a dry cough and a sore throat. Some people also feel sick and report diarrhoea or stomach pain.

The symptoms are similar in children, but they can also suffer from ear pain and appear less active.

An average of 2,226 patients were in hospital each day last week with flu, including 84 in critical care beds, according to NHS England.

The total is up 41% from 1,582 the previous week and up 70% from the start of the year.

Another 688 hospital beds in England were filled last week by people with norovirus-like symptoms such as diarrhoea and sickness.

The virus - known as the winter vomiting bug - spreads easily through contaminated surfaces or contact with an infected person.

The number of people in hospital with Covid in England declined slightly, with an average of 3,701 beds occupied over the past week in large NHS trusts.

Of that number, just over a quarter - or 1,013 - were being treated "primarily" for the virus, with the majority admitted to hospital for another health problem.

Analysis of lateral flow tests indicated that about 2% - or one in every 50 people - would have tested positive for the virus in England and Scotland, compared to 2.3% in its previous report.

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Flu and norovirus cases hit new winter high in England - BBC

Representational image

2024 seems to have begun on a somber note for wildlife conservationists as a concerning trend of first-evers sparks chaos over the usually tranquil environs of Antarctica. In January, the first-ever polar bear death due to avian influenza came to light, with reports of the first penguin deaths due to the same bird flu following hot on its heels in February.

While we humans were engrossed in our own hellish lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a mini pandemic of sorts has been reigning terror over the wildlife in the Northern Hemisphere, around the Atlantic, Pacific Ocean and Southern Africa since 2022. A highly pathogenic strain of the bird flu virus has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of seabirds. And experts fear that the worst is yet to come.

Already, the deadly visitor H5N1, which probably reached Antarctica by air, water, or possibly both, has caused the death of several penguins in the region. This unwelcome guest, confirmed in two deceased gentoo penguins on Sea Lion Island, marks a chilling first for the Antarctic region. Further, at least 35 adults and chicks have also been reported as either symptomatic or dead.

At the Falkland Island, over 200 chicks, alongside a handful of adults, have succumbed, government spokesperson Sally Heathman told Reuters. Other seabird individuals, like the Southern Fulmar, Black Browed Albatross and the Skua, have also died on various islands of Antarctica, as per the Falkland Islands Department of Agriculture.

The situation is particularly concerning for penguins already facing diverse threats like climate change, pollution, and overfishing. This virus presents a unique challenge due to penguins' lack of immunity and their densely packed colonies, perfect breeding grounds for rapid transmission. The devastating impact seen in South America, where thousands of Humboldt penguins perished, serves as a stark warning.

However, the ongoing events are far from surprising. Experts have been raising alarm about how we could be facing one of the largest ecological disasters of modern times if bird flu reached remote Antarctic penguin populations. And their predictions seem to be coming true, sadly.

The virus reached South Georgia in October 2023, infecting numerous bird species and marine mammals like seals and sea lions. The mass die-off witnessed in South America serves as a grim foreshadowing for Antarctica's future.

While infections haven't been confirmed on the mainland yet, experts fear the virus might be spreading undetected. The race is on to understand the scope of the outbreak and implement mitigation strategies to protect these vulnerable creatures. The fate of penguins and the entire Antarctic ecosystem hangs in the balance.

**

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Bird Flu Kills Antarctica Penguins in a First! Could Spur a Modern Ecological Disaster - The Weather Channel