Don’t call it a ‘super flu’ - but the NHS is right to be worried this winter |
You might be feeling stressed out seeing the headlines about “super flu” and comparing the current winter health challenges with 2020 and Covid. Amid all the noise, it’s difficult to know how bad this flu really is – and how much is political spin. I should start by saying “super flu” is not a scientific term or one used by any academics or clinicians I work with. It’s a colloquial phrase that’s been used by various NHS England bosses and taken up by Wes Streeting, the health secretary, and Keir Starmer.
This year, a couple of factors have come together to make it a harder flu season for hospitals to manage. First, flu has arrived earlier than previous years. This isn’t unique to the UK: it’s the same picture across the US, Canada, Japan, Germany – basically the northern hemisphere going into winter. This is in the context of multiple viruses circulating such as Covid and rhinoviruses, which means patients could be fighting one or more viruses at the same time and are more susceptible to getting sicker from influenza.
The current level of hospitalisations usually occurs in January, but it’s happening a month earlier. According to recent NHS England data, flu-related hospital admissions have risen sharply in December 2025, with figures showing an average of around 2,660 flu patients in hospital per day, the highest level recorded for this time of year, and a 55% rise in admissions in just one week. A&E attendances for flu and respiratory illness overall have also reached record levels, compounding pressure on emergency........