Scotland is now experiencing its highest flu rate in five years, with the number of cases reaching “extraordinary” levels, officials said.
Public Health Scotland’s (PHS) Weekly Report on Respiratory Viruses showed 24.9 influenza cases per 100,000 people in the week leading up to Sunday.
This is the highest case rate in Scotland since the last week of 2017 and is high enough for the health authority to classify it as ’emergency’.
Officials are advising people to stock up on acetaminophen, ibuprofen and a suitable substitute for children to keep them off the streets during the holiday season.
They also recommend that people with comorbidities make sure they have enough prescription drugs so they don’t run out, making them more vulnerable.
PHS data showed that there were 1,358 confirmed cases of influenza in Scotland in the week ending 18 December, compared to 423 in the week ending 4 December.
Influenza is measured using a five-point system: baseline, low, moderate, high, and exceptional. The highest level is reached when there are more than 23 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
At a press briefing, PHS Medical Director Dr. Nick Fin that the current numbers are “slightly below the peak of the 2017-2018 season”.
This year saw the highest number of winter deaths since 1999-2000, with 23,137 deaths recorded from December 2017 to March 2018.
“Right now, we don’t know if they will continue to rise or if they will peak and then slow down,” the doctor added. added. “It is difficult to say whether this will lead to an increase in mortality.
“A number of factors play a role in the extra winter deaths, such as extreme cold, because we know that this could be another factor.”
He said people should make sure they have enough paracetamol at home during the holiday season, “when many shops are closed and many services are unavailable.”
Another piece of advice to the public is to avoid large crowds where viruses can easily be transmitted, they were told, to prevent the spread of Covid.
Dr Feen also provided an update on Strep A and said early signs indicate that Scotland has “turned the corner” in stabilizing the number of cases.
“The numbers seem to have stabilized. We expect the numbers to drop next week,” he added.
“School holidays will provide an opportunity to naturally break the chains of transmission. Children are quite strong carriers of many contagious diseases, so natural events such as school holidays can be very helpful.
He added that levels of invasive group A streptococcus, or iGAS, a more severe form of the disease, have also not risen.
Source: I News
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