Greater Manchester’s NHS has warned that flu is hitting the region’s hospitals hard as a ‘tidal wave’ of infections led to a 49 per cent increase in hospital cases in the city-region in seven days last week.
In just one week, hospitalisations increased from 61 patients from November 25 to December 1, to 91 from December 2 to December 8 in the city-region.
The north west at large saw a 28 per cent increase – with 1,153 patients with flu in hospital last week, up from 825 the week before.
Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows flu cases are currently highest among five to 14-year-olds, but adult cases are expected to rise significantly once schools and nurseries close for Christmas, says the region’s NHS.