Explainer: Latest figures suggest influenza cases may have peaked

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By Daniel Pye

Latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency suggest flu cases may be finally beginning to reduce - here’s what the data shows.

The UKHSA data gives us a clearer view of how this flu season compares with previous years, including the period over Christmas and New Year. There are early indications that positive tests, hospitalisations and ICU/HDU ward admissions may have peaked - although they are still higher than the equivalent points in previous years.

After the first week of January, NHS medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said some emergency department staff had compared pressures this winter to “the height of the pandemic”.

The number of people waiting more than 12 hours in A&E departments in England from a decision to admit to being admitted stood at 54,207 in December, up from 45,791 in November. This is close to the record high for a calendar month of 54,573 which occurred in December 2022.