Scotland Flu Cases More Than Double as Hospital Admissions Surge by 70%

Sharp Rise in Flu Activity Across Scotland

Scotland is experiencing a dramatic surge in influenza cases, with laboratory-confirmed cases of flu more than doubling in the past week, rising from 845 to 1,759. The situation has prompted health authorities to issue urgent vaccination appeals as the nation faces an unusually early and severe flu season.

Hospital admissions due to flu also increased by 70% in the past week, rising from 426 the previous week to 724. This sharp escalation has placed significant pressure on Scotland’s health service, with several NHS boards elevating their flu activity response levels from low or medium to high.

H3N2 Strain Dominates and Affects All Age Groups

The current outbreak is being driven by an influenza mutation of the H3N2 strain, known for causing severe illness. Unlike typical flu seasons, health officials report that all age groups are being affected simultaneously. Cases have increased in all groups, but have reached a higher intensity in ages one to four and have been described as at a “very high” level in the five to 14 age groups.

Despite higher case rates among children, those aged 65 and over make up around 40% of all hospital admissions, with those aged 75 and over representing the highest proportion. Those aged 65 and over, pregnant women, and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk of serious flu illness, hospitalisation, and in some cases, death.

Early Season Start and Healthcare Response

Flu season has arrived about a month earlier than usual in Scotland, and cases are rising rapidly. This early start has caught authorities’ attention, with test positivity rates climbing significantly. In response to the crisis, several health boards including NHS Dumfries & Galloway and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde increased from medium to high activity level, while NHS Shetland and NHS Tayside increased from low to high.

Glasgow health authorities have taken additional precautionary measures, advising people with mild to moderate flu-like symptoms not to attend accident and emergency departments or visit hospital patients to prevent further spread among vulnerable populations.

Vaccination Remains Key Protection

Health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccination despite concerns about the vaccine’s effectiveness against the mutated strain. Early evidence from UKHSA shows that this year’s vaccine does a good job preventing severe disease, as measured by hospital admissions due to flu for the strains currently circulating in the UK. Children are around 70-75% less likely to attend or be admitted to hospital with flu if vaccinated, and adults are around 30-40% less likely to attend or be admitted.

As of late November, over 1.1 million adult flu vaccines have been delivered – over 87,000 more than this point last winter, with more than 439,000 children vaccinated, bringing the total to over 1.5 million doses this season. Health authorities urge all eligible individuals, including pregnant women, those over 65, people with underlying conditions, and healthcare workers, to come forward for their flu vaccine without delay.