Britain is being battered by a wave of winter viruses, despite flu cases steadily falling, experts warned today.
Leading virologists say the recent flu outbreak may have left the public more vulnerable to other seasonal illnesses, with many people now falling sick with one or even several viruses at once.
The comments come as the number of norovirus patients in hospitals in England hit record highs last week, with more than 1,000 beds occupied each day, prompting warnings of a ‘second surge’ just as infection rates had begun to ease.
Surveillance data suggest flu hospital admissions are continuing to fall in England after one of the worst seasons on record.
Yet doctors say more people than ever appear to be unwell, with coughs, colds and stomach bugs spreading rapidly.
Professor Paul Hunter, a leading infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, said this pattern is not unusual for winter.
‘Most viral infections are more common in winter, and it is not unusual to see multiple infections circulating at the same time,’ he told the Daily Mail.
Experts believe the country is currently facing a triple threat of norovirus, adenovirus and rhinovirus, a combination that could place further strain on an already stretched NHS.
Britain is being battered by a tidal wave of winter viruses, despite flu cases steadily falling, experts have warned
Professor Hunter said people can catch more than one virus either at the same time or in quick succession.
‘When we see co-infections it is often difficult to say which is the main problem, or whether the viruses are acting together to make someone more ill than they would be with just one infection,’ he said.
‘That is quite plausible and is probably what we’re seeing at the moment.’
Data from the UK Health Security Agency show all three viruses have remained high in recent weeks, with rhinovirus – the most common cause of the common cold – responsible for the largest share of cases.
Rhinovirus infections are usually mild, but when combined with other winter viruses they can cause more serious illness in vulnerable people.
Symptoms include a runny or blocked nose, cough, sore throat, headache, mild aches and fever, meaning it is often mistaken for flu.
Adenovirus cases have also peaked in recent weeks, with children under five most affected. Although less well known, officials say it is one of the most common causes of viral infection.
Unlike flu, which peaks in winter, adenovirus can circulate all year. Symptoms are often mild and cold-like, but in more serious cases can resemble flu and lead to complications such as conjunctivitis, chest infections, ear infections and gastroenteritis.
Professor Hunter said a combination of adenovirus and rhinovirus could explain why many people are experiencing worse colds than usual.
‘Adenovirus has shot up in the last couple of weeks, which isn’t entirely unexpected,’ he said.
‘Immunity to respiratory viruses doesn’t last very long, so what we’re seeing now could be the fallout from a couple of years ago.’ He added that cases are likely to remain high for several more weeks.
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, has fallen back to baseline levels overall, but remains stubbornly high among older adults. Around 9,000 elderly people are admitted to hospital with RSV each year, according to the NHS.
Earlier this year the Government announced that from April the RSV vaccine will be offered to additional vulnerable groups, including those at greatest risk of severe illness.
Norovirus, often dubbed the winter vomiting bug, is highly contagious and requires very little exposure to cause infection.
While flu rates have eased, norovirus can produce similar symptoms such as fever, chills and headaches, alongside sudden vomiting and diarrhoea.
Most people recover at home within a few days, but the virus can be deadly for older adults, young children and those with weakened immune systems.
Figures show an average of 1,102 patients a day were hospitalised with norovirus last week, a nine per cent rise on the previous week and the highest level seen this winter. Laboratory reports also show nearly 1,000 positive cases in early February – almost 40 per cent above the long-term average.
Health officials say a return to pre-pandemic social habits may be helping the virus spread.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said the flu season is not yet over and urged continued caution.
‘While trends are heading in the right direction, people should still take steps to reduce the spread, particularly around those more vulnerable,’ he said.
Amy Douglas, another UKHSA epidemiologist, warned the surge in viruses will hit vulnerable groups hardest.
She urged people to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, clean surfaces with bleach-based products, ventilate indoor spaces, stay at home if unwell and consider wearing a face mask if they need to go out while symptomatic.
Flu and RSV vaccines remain available on the NHS for those most at risk, including over-65s, pregnant women, young children and people with long-term health conditions.
