NHS chiefs in London are sounding an alert as flu cases exceed previous years' levels, particularly among young people. Nationally, flu swab positivity increased from 5.0% to 6.5%, with hospital admissions reaching 1.97 per 100,000 people during the week of September 28 to October 4. In London, virus test positivity rose to 5.6% by the end of September, up from 2.5% at the end of August. Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal and NHS officials urge eligible individuals to get vaccinated immediately against the rising threat of an early flu season.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) surveillance report shows that, while flu levels in London are relatively low, September's figures have exceeded those recorded during the same timeframe over the past four years.
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figures → show → years
Nationally during the week of September 28 to October 4, flu swab positivity increased from 5.0% to 6.5%, while hospital admissions for the virus reached 1.97 per 100,000 people.
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admissions → increase → people
The upward trend, which has been rising steadily since August, has been driven by cases among young people, according to the data.
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which → rise → data
The rise has added to the strain on the NHS in the capital.
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rise → add → capital
The NHS national medical director has revealed that hospital admissions for the virus are at the "highest" level she can recall for this point in the year, while cautioning that there are “slightly ominous” early indicators of winter pressures building for the health service.
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she → reveal → service
Professor Frankie Swords told a briefing: “From an NHS perspective, it is very early in the season, but the number of admissions for flu are the highest that I can remember seeing at this time of year, and it's coincided with just the start of the expected increase in Covid cases in our hospitals.
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it → tell → hospitals
“But this is coming on the back of the busiest summer we've ever had in our emergency departments, we have got very, very busy hospitals.
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we → come → hospitals
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, has warned that people should come forward for protection without delay.
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people → warn → delay
He said: “Flu levels are increasing with the possibility of an early flu season so now is the time for those eligible to get vaccinated.
“The vaccine contains components to help protect against all three types of flu virus.
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vaccine → say → virus
We may see one flu virus dominating at different times during winter, or all three circulating at similar levels throughout.
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three → see → levels
Read More
“As we saw with last year’s dominant virus, flu vaccines typically remain effective at preventing severe flu, even when drifted strains are seen.”
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strains → read → flu
NHS London’s Chief Nurse, Karen Bonner, has also urged Londoners to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
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Nurse → urge → Londoners
Last winter, around 300 hospital beds in London were occupied by patients with flu each day as the virus reached unprecedented levels.
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virus → occupy → levels
Prof Swords said that 3.9 million people in England have already received their flu jab since the beginning of last month, when pregnant women, toddlers and school-age children from September 1 became eligible.
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women → say → September
Those aged over 65 and other eligible adults have been offered the vaccine since October 1.
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Those → age → October
Members of the public who are eligible for a free vaccine can check their status and book appointments through the NHS App, online, or by contacting GP surgeries and local pharmacies.
Chief Nurse Bonner said: “I urge all eligible Londoners to get vaccinated by booking an appointment or visiting a walk-in site as soon as possible.
“Vaccination is the best protection against becoming seriously ill, both for yourself and those around you, and it helps reduce the mounting pressure on the capital’s NHS services this winter.
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it → check → services
Every winter, thousands of children need hospital care because of the virus, while pregnant women are also at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell.
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women → need → risk
Anyone can carry and spread flu without ever showing symptoms themselves, which is why vaccination matters even for those who feel healthy.
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who → carry → those
“Side effects of having the vaccination are typically mild, such as a sore arm or slightly raised temperature for a day or two, and far less severe than flu itself.”
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effects → have → flu
Dr Chris Streather, Regional Medical Director for the NHS in London, added: “It's easy to think flu is only a problem once winter sets in, but the virus doesn't wait for cold weather, and neither should you.
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you → add → weather
For some children and pregnant women, it can lead to serious illness or a hospital stay.
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it → lead → illness
“Vaccination takes just a few minutes, yet it offers real protection, both for you and for the people around you who may be more vulnerable to serious illness.
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who → take → illness
Getting it done now means you're already protected by the time winter pressures and illness really start to bite.
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pressures → get → time
Prof Swords said: “In September, on average, 95% of our occupancy was used every day, and that's September.
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that → say → occupancy
“So although the weather's still nice, and perhaps people aren't thinking too much about flu at the moment, please, we are acting early, and I'd really encourage people to act early.
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I → think → people
“Because winter is coming, and the pressure is going to build and rise as temperatures fall.”
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temperatures → come → ?
The data shows that 1,374 people in Britain contracted Covid in August - but in September, this jumped 230% to 4,589.
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this → show → 4,589
The data is more concerning when focussing on the end of the month, with cases rising nationally by almost 30% in the seven days to September 23.
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cases → focusse → September
Dr Alex Allen, Consultant Epidemiologist from the UKHSA, told BBC Radio London: “Over the last month or two we have seen increases in COVID activity, both in terms of case numbers and hospital admissions.
“COVID continues to circulate in the UK on a regular basis.
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COVID → tell → basis
major peak was around a year ago, so this is roughly the time of year when we would expect activity to increase again.
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activity → expect → year
“As we enter winter, changes in weather and people spending more time indoors contribute to the spread of respiratory viruses.
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changes → enter → viruses
In addition, immunity gained from previous infections and vaccinations can wane over time.”
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immunity → gain → time
The Aporia
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