The United Kingdom is facing a severe flu outbreak, with over 5,000 patients hospitalised by the end of December, straining the healthcare system.

The National Health Service (NHS) reported an average of 4,469 daily flu-related hospitalisations in the week ending December 29, a nearly 3.5-fold increase compared to the same time in 2023.

On Christmas Day, flu cases in hospitals reached 4,102, climbing to 5,074 by December 29—a dramatic quadrupling since November 29, when the figure stood at 1,190.

Compounding the crisis, hospitals are also dealing with surging cases of norovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Critical care units recorded an average of 211 flu patients daily, while norovirus and RSV infections have risen significantly compared to last year.

Naija News understands that to manage the unprecedented demand, the NHS has introduced measures such as adding 1,300 additional beds and improving coordination centres.

On Christmas Eve, a record 15,094 patients were discharged, reflecting a 40% increase over the previous week’s average.

Julian Redhead, the NHS National Clinical Director for urgent and emergency care, highlighted the sustained pressure from flu, COVID-19, RSV, and other viruses. He described the rising flu hospitalisations—surpassing 5,000 daily by the year’s end—as “a very concerning rate.”

Redhead also warned of further risks as temperatures are expected to drop below freezing, posing additional threats to vulnerable individuals, particularly those with respiratory conditions.

He urged the public to take precautions and use NHS services responsibly during this critical period.

The post 5000 Hospitalised As Potentially Deadly Flu Emerges appeared first on Naija News.

Top aides of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, have contracted the dangerous coronavirus (Covid-19).

Despite the silence of the Nigerian government, it was gathered that many aides of President Buhari and top officials of government are down with the virus.

Government officials have also urged State House newspapers correspondents not to report the surge in infections at the villa.

According to Premium Times, those infected by the deadly virus include the permanent secretary in the State House, Tijani Umar; the President’s Aide-de-camp (ADC), Yusuf Dodo; his chief security officer (CSO), Aliyu Musa, his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, among others.

It was gathered that some of the infected officials had to be taken out of the cabinet meeting on Wednesday when the result of their polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests came back positive.

Confirming the report, Garba Shehu stated that he is only afflicted with a mild variant of the COVID-19.

He however told Premium Times in message that he could not confirm other cases mentioned to him.

Garba Shehu wrote; “I have no confirmation of the cases you mentioned, but yes I have been afflicted by the mild variant of the COVID-19. I felt okay from the beginning, maybe because one had received all three jabs, and right now, I feel 100 per cent. I just finished my hour-long running exercise.

“But the strange thing about this ailment is that it is the scientists, not you, that will say you are okay. Right now, I’m taking my prescriptions and isolating, and would go back for a test to ascertain if the virus is still here or it has left me. Thanks for your goodwill.”

Also speaking on the issue, the special assistant to the President on digital and new media, Tolu Ogunlesi, said he could not comment on the matter, referring newsmen to those he described as the government’s spokespersons.

This article was originally published on Naija News

The United Kingdom has announced it is scrapping the red list for international travel from 4am Wednesday, December 15.

Naija News reports that this was made known by the Secretary of Health, Sajid Javid, in the House of Commons.

According Javid, the travel red list for countries is no longer working in stopping the spread of new variant.

“So I can announce today that whilst we’ll maintain our temporary testing measures for international travel, we will be removing all 11 countries from the travel red list effective from 4am tomorrow,” he said.

Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe are currently on the list.

This online newspaper reports that Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, also took to Twitter to announce the lifting of the ban.

“From 4am on Weds 15 Dec, ALL 11 countries will be removed from England’s travel red. All current TESTING measures remain in place & will be reviewed in the first week of January,” he wrote.

“As always, we keep all our travel measures under review and we may impose new restrictions should there be a need to do so to protect public health.”

This article was originally published on Naija News