The number of people in hospital in England with flu remains at a record level for this time of year and has increased by 55% in a week, NHS figures show.

An average of 2,660 flu patients were in hospital each day last week, up from 1,717 the previous week. At this point last year the number stood at 1,861 patients, while in 2023 it was just 402.

The NHS national medical director, Prof Meghana Pandit, said: “This unprecedented wave of super flu is leaving the NHS facing a worst-case scenario for this time of year.”

Weekly flu numbers in England peaked at 5,408 patients last winter and reached 5,441 over the winter of 2022-23.

More details soon …