• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
NHS issues advice as warning given on ‘tidal wave’ of serious illnesses sweeping across UK before Christmas

Home> News

Updated 15:39 13 Dec 2024 GMTPublished 15:38 13 Dec 2024 GMT

NHS issues advice as warning given on ‘tidal wave’ of serious illnesses sweeping across UK before Christmas

Brits have been warned over a 'quad-demic' following a surge of cases up and down the country

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle

The NHS has issued its official advice as a warning has been given on a 'tidal wave' of serious illnesses sweeping across UK before Christmas.

This year, UK medics and GPs are alerting Brits to a pretty ghastly combination of four common types of winter illness - which has also been dubbed a 'quad-demic' which has triggered a 70 per cent rise in hospital cases in England in just one single week.

And an average of 1,861 patients with the one of the four illnesses in question were in hospital every day last week - a drastic rise from 1,099 the previous week and 402 this time in 2023.

Brits have been warned over a 'tidal wave' of serious illnesses sweeping across the UK right now (Getty Stock Images)
Brits have been warned over a 'tidal wave' of serious illnesses sweeping across the UK right now (Getty Stock Images)

Advert

The UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency) describe the four horsemen of the 2024 festive season as Covid-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and norovirus (the 'vomiting bug').

According to statistic released by the health body, the latter three conditions have triggered a colossal spike in numbers in the last week alone.

"[These are] four very common viral illnesses that circulate every winter in different peaks," NHS GP Dr Alexander Allen explained to Sky News.

"This is peak time so even if you are fit and healthy, your chances of catching all of these illnesses if quite high."

Advert

He added: "Flu is the cause of the rise in winter illnesses that we’ve seen in the past week, with emergency department attendances also increasing."

Following the surge, the public has been urged by both the UKHSA and the NHS to get the flu vaccine as hospitalisation rates are rising steeply.

Asked how best to combat these conditions, Allen said vaccinations are key - particularly in the cases Covid-19 and the flu.

Both the NHS and the UKHSA advise getting vaccinated during flu season (Getty Stock Images)
Both the NHS and the UKHSA advise getting vaccinated during flu season (Getty Stock Images)

Advert

Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA, agreed: "The threat of an early flu season is materialising, alongside norovirus rates increasing rapidly. With winter vaccine uptake not yet reaching the high levels we aim for in some eligible groups - including healthcare workers, our forecasts for infection rates are not getting any brighter.

"It is vital that those eligible take up the free flu and COVID-19 vaccines before Christmas. In just one week it will be too late to book through the NHS online booking service. Taking up the vaccine will prevent putting your seasonal plans in jeopardy – and more importantly, prevent the risk of severe illness and hospitalisation.

"The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk of suffering more serious illness from flu or norovirus, so if you have flu-like symptoms or diarrhoea or vomiting, avoid visiting people in hospital and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings."

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer added: "The latest data is clear that flu is rising rapidly, and we are approaching a serious flu wave.

Advert

"Flu can be unpleasant for many and life threatening for some. With the festive season approaching we can still reduce illness, hospitalisations and deaths by increasing vaccination rates – it is our best defence.

"Now is the time to get vaccinated if you are eligible."

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Advice, Christmas, Health, NHS, News, UK News, Covid-19

Rhiannon Ingle
Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Senior Journalist at Tyla, specialising in TV, film, travel, and culture. A graduate of the University of Manchester with a degree in English Literature, she honed her editorial skills as the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the UK’s largest student newspaper. With a keen eye for storytelling, Rhiannon brings fresh perspectives to her writing, blending critical insight with an engaging style. Her work captures the intersection of entertainment and real-world experiences.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Donald Trump takes extreme measures against state of California after they refuse to ban trans athletes

    It comes after the United States president issued a ban on transgender athletes competing in women's sports

    News
  • an hour ago

    Father’s heartbreaking final voicemail to children before being swept away by deadly floods shared by family

    The death toll following the devastating Texas floods on Friday (4 July) has now risen to over 100

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Carole Middleton spotted with 'secret crush' at Wimbledon years after Princess Kate publicly exposed ‘heartthrob’

    The Princess of Wales opened up about her mother's 'secret crush' in a BBC doc back in 2017

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    City officially bans Labubu amid concerns about the dolls as dark conspiracy gains traction

    The doll has been banned in the area due to 'consumer exploitation and cultural concerns'

    News
  • NHS issues warning on ‘quad-demic’ as cases after surge in four bugs across UK
  • NHS advice on highly contagious skin disease after Brits issued warning over surge in cases
  • Top doctor issues warning about vital A&E mistake made every year by people suffering winter illnesses
  • Symptoms of new Covid variant sweeping US that you need to look out for after fears it’s more transmissible