London GP warns capital faces particularly bad flu season as infections rise

"Londoners are being warned of a particularly bad flu season this year as a more infectious strain of the virus spreads, prompting renewed calls for those eligible to get vaccinated. Hackney GP Dr Tehseen Khan said this year's flu strain appears to be more infectious and is leading to more severe illness and hospital admissions than last year. Cases have been rising since mid-September, with all age groups affected, including young children."

"This is a sharp rise compared to 2.9% at the same time last year. Dr Khan warned that the pressure on NHS services is already being felt. It's always a difficult time in winter, a stretched service, A&E being busier as well, so there is real concern about protecting the NHS over the winter months, particularly with the circulating flu virus being a lot more serious this year, he said."

"He added that vaccination remains one of the most important tools to help ease pressure on health services: It makes it all the more important that people do come forward and do their bit to vaccinate and protect themselves. London's significantly lower vaccination rates compared with the national average are also adding to concern. Dr Khan attributed this to barriers around accessibility and a more transient population, as well as language barriers and widespread misinformation about vaccines."

London is seeing a sharp rise in flu cases from a more infectious strain that is causing more severe illness and higher hospital admissions than last year. Cases have risen since mid-September across all ages, with a spike in school-aged children and positivity increasing from 6.1% to 8.2% in one week, compared with 2.9% a year earlier. NHS services are already under pressure with busier A&E and GP services and stretched winter capacity. Vaccination is a key tool to reduce illness and ease pressure, but London’s uptake remains well below the national average due to accessibility, transience, language barriers, and misinformation. Last year flu accounted for 300,000 hospital bed days nationwide.

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