A WINTER ‘quadruple-demic’ of nasty viruses is set to strike the UK in just weeks.
RSV, a potentially lethal lung infection, has hit the under-fives, and an increase in infections has left many in hospital, fresh figures show.
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Meanwhile, cases of the sickness bug norovirus have surged by 16 per cent in two weeks and are predicted to keep increasing.
Covid and flu also risk surging in the next few weeks, despite currently circulating at low levels, health experts predict.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common lung infection that in some instances can be deadly, especially for infants and the elderly.
According to data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), cases have risen to 7.1 per cent in the last fortnight, up from 5.2 per cent.
The highest positivity between October 28 and November 3 was found those aged under five years at 30.9 per cent.
Hospital admissions for the illness also increased to 1.26 per 100,000 compared with 0.88.
“RSV is now circulating at higher levels, particularly amongst those aged 5-years-old and under,” Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, from the UKHSA said.
“While other respiratory illnesses remain at baseline levels, we expect to see this change in the next few weeks and we urge everyone eligible to get vaccinated against the three main winter threats,” he added.”
For the first time ever millions of people in the UK will be able to receive a free RSV vaccine on the NHS.
Anyone aged between 75 and 79 is eligible for one dose of Pfizer’s jab Abrysvo to tackle RSV.
All women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant are also being invited for a shot to help keep themselves and their babies safe.
The UKHSA report, based on laboratory test results, suggests that the rise in detected cases may be linked to changes in national disease surveillance methods following the pandemic.
Changes to testing and reporting, and the weather getting colder, are also considered possible factors in the report.
Not all virus cases are reported or tested, so the true number of infections is likely to be much higher.
Carolina Goncalves, superintendent pharmacist for Pharmica, previously said: “The risk of a ‘quadruple-demic’ is quite real for some individuals.”
“Concurrent outbreaks of Covid, flu, RSV and norovirus during the colder months can trigger back-to-back illness and may be exacerbated by seasonal factors, increased indoor gatherings and weak immune systems in some individuals,” she told MailOnline.
How to stay safe
Thankfully, there are some simple ways to help curb the spread or norovirus
The UKHSA urges families to:
- Wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water
- Wash fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating them
- Cook foods thoroughly
- Routinely sanitise surfaces
- Avoid close contact with people who are obviously sick
And if you, a relative or friend has got norovirus, it’s important to remember:
- It cannot be treated with antibiotics.
- Vomiting and diarrhoea cause your body to lose water and salts, which can lead to dehydration, so drink plenty of fluids.
- Stay at home. Do not return to work or send kids to school until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
- Avoid cooking or preparing meals for others until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
- Wash all contaminated clothing and bedding using detergent and at 60C.
- Disinfect contaminated surfaces with bleach-based cleaning products where possible.
- Seek medical attention if symptoms do not improve.
Seperate UKHSA stats reveal that rates of norovirus, which can also cause violent diarrhoea, are up almost a fifth in just a fortnight.
Experts also said a variant dubbed ‘Kawasaki’, first spotted in Japan, now accounts for almost 70 per cent of all cases.
There were 447 confirmed cases of the bug between October 14 and 27, according to the figures.
This is 16 per cent higher than the 384 reported in the previous fortnight.
“The usual increase we see in norovirus cases heading into the winter has started earlier compared to previous seasons,” Amy Douglas, from the UKHSA said.
“We’re seeing more cases of a particular strain of norovirus this year, but at present there is no indication it leads to more severe illness.”
The figures come as a new vaccine that could stop people from developing the vomiting bug norovirus is being trialled in the UK.
The mRNA vaccine from Moderna has entered its final stages of testing, the Health Secretary has announced, with results so far showing it creates a “strong immune response”.
Meanwhile, Covid infections decreased to 9.3 per cent compared to 11.9 per cent in the previous week.
However, scientists have also sounded the alarm over a new, more contagious Covid variant called XEC, which is spreading across several European countries.
Meanwhile, rates of flu also fell slightly from 2.9 per cent to 2.8 per cent.
Experts at UKHSA recently warned flu cases are already twice as high among children aged 5 to 14 compared with the general population, prompting experts to urge parents to get their kids vaccinated.
Who is eligible for free Covid, flu and RSV vaccines?
In line with JCVI advice, those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include:
From October 3:
- Those aged 65 years and over
- Those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book)
- Those at serious risk, including those with a BMI over 40, diabetes, heart and breathing conditions
- Those in long-stay residential care homes
- Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- Frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme – including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers
- Those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants.
From September 1:
- Pregnant women
- All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
- Primary school-aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
- Secondary school-aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
- All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
Those eligible for an autumn Covid booster are:
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- All adults aged 65 years and over
- Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book, including pregnant women
- Frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults
Those eligible for an RSV vaccine are:
- Pregnant people from 28 weeks onwards
- People aged 75 to 79
