Scotland ‘over the worst’ as flu rate decreases

● First time in a month GP visits for influenza-like illness go down

Scotland’s flu outbreak looks to be past its peak after cases dropped for the first time in a month, according to official statistics.

Health Protection Scotland’s latest report shows 102 people per 100,000 of the population were reported as having the virus in the week ending 21 January. That is down from 114 people per 100,000 in the previous week, which had risen week-on-week since the last week in December.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Gregor Smith said: “Flulike illnesses will continue to impact on the health and social care services for some time, but the recent decrease does offer hope that we are over the worst.

“We will, however, continue to monitor trends for some weeks yet.

“The predominant strain

0 Doctors have urged those who haven’t had a flu jab to do so, as it will still offer protection now is covered by this year’s flu vaccine and I’d continue to encourage anyone in an eligible group to take up the free jab as it is the best defence against flu.”

Figures from the official body showed last week’s reports were five times higher than in the same period last year – despite there being almost 20,000 more vaccines administered compared with 2017.

Cases had risen from 107 per 100,000 people in the week ending 7 January, while about 46 Scots in every 100,000 suffered from the virus during the final week of December.

Early analysis suggests the peak in GP consultations has now passed – however, GP consultations remain five times higher than the same period last year.

Officials said that monitoring is still ongoing to assess the impact across all healthcare systems.

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “It is encouraging to see the number of reported flu-like illnesses fall.

“While we could yet see a rise this winter, the data suggests we have now passed the peak of GP consultations.

“There are still a few months of winter left so we will continue to work with health boards to ensure they are coping with the challenges of flu.”

Conservative health spokesman Miles Briggs said: “I am pleased to see the flu rate in Scotland has begun to decline and hopefully we are over the worst of it. The decrease in flu rates will be in large part due to an increase in people being vaccinated. If SNP ministers had listened to Scottish Conservative warnings in October and put an effective vaccination programme into place, we wouldn’t be in the position that we are in now.

“If you have not been vaccinated yet there is still time and it is worth doing to decrease your chances of catching the flu.”