The United Kingdom is facing the most serious health crisis in recent years, following the emergence of an aggressive form of flu – dubbed „super flu” – which has led to school closures, hospital bottlenecks, and recommendations to wear masks in crowded spaces.
In addition to the flu wave, British authorities are also monitoring a severe outbreak of norovirus, after at least 100 passengers on a cruise ship were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. Those affected exhibited violent symptoms, and the crew had to isolate areas of the ship, as reported by Daily Mail.
Schools closed, hundreds of sick children
Dozens of schools in the Kingdom are reporting massive waves of illnesses, with hundreds of students and teachers absent simultaneously. In some cases, principals say the atmosphere resembles the beginning of the Covid pandemic. One of the most affected units is St Martin's in Caerphilly, Wales, where over 250 students and staff have fallen ill. The school has been temporarily closed for a "break in the epidemiological chain" period, during which a thorough decontamination is carried out and classes move online.
Children have reported severe symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, cough, headaches, and pronounced fatigue, with an average recovery time of seven days. Health authorities in Wales confirm that they have recommended, in some places, the temporary closure of schools.
In Cheshire, Congleton High School closed its doors for three days, and a primary school in Leeds even limited Christmas rehearsals to stop the virus from spreading. "It's the worst year since I've been here," says headteacher Elaine Bown, who had nearly an entire class absent in one day.
The situation is also dire in Northern Ireland. At Ebrington Primary School, 170 students were absent in a single day, and some ended up in the hospital. "I felt like in 2020," admits director Brian Guthrie.
Hospitals overwhelmed. London triples its admissions
At the same time, the number of flu-related hospitalizations has tripled in London, and doctors warn that "the peak of the epidemic is not yet visible." University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has declared a "critical incident" due to overcrowding at the Royal Stoke Hospital and Stafford County Hospital, urging the population to use emergency services only for extremely severe cases that would endanger their lives.
In Scotland, the NHS system has suspended regular visits to all hospitals in Ayrshire and Arran, citing "significant pressure" and a sharp increase in respiratory infections.
Experts' recommendation: mask and flu vaccination
Epidemiologists warn that part of the rapid spread of the flu is caused by intense transmission in school environments.
Simon Clarke, a professor of cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, argues that the recommendation to wear masks is "a natural extension" of rules applied in winter before the pandemic.
"Masks do no harm, but many flu patients can't even get out of bed," he explains. Clarke emphasizes that collective immunity and flu vaccination remain the most effective tools: "The fact that someone was vaccinated last year doesn't mean they are protected this year."