Flu cases hit highest seasonal level since 2022 as Covid rises and hospitals brace for winter

The UK Health Security Agency reports that roughly 6.5% of people tested for influenza are now positive, a notable jump from 5% a week earlier and the highest rate for this period since 2022. The surge appears linked to university students returning to campuses and is occurring alongside a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases, which have risen from 1,374 in August to 4,589 in September, the highest monthly figures since October last year.

NHS England’s national medical director, Frankie Swords, warned that hospitals are already operating at about 95% capacity and that flu-related hospitalisations have reached a level she recalls as unprecedented for this season. She described the situation as “ominous early signs of winter pressure.” Health officials are urging eligible people to get flu shots—3.9 million have been administered since September—and the autumn Covid booster, with roughly 730,000 doses given so far. The combined rise in respiratory illnesses is prompting preparations for a potentially strained winter healthcare system.