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.
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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."
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.
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.
"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."