4:58pm UK, Friday December 24, 2010
The number of people in critical care with confirmed or suspected flu in England has risen to 460 - more than double the figure a week ago.
Statistics released by the Department of Health (DoH) on December 15 showed 182 people were receiving intensive care or were in high dependency beds.
As of December 24, there were 460 patients receiving the same level of care, with 366 of them aged between 16 and 64.
The new figures follow an announcement on December 23 that 27 people had died from flu this season, including nine children - with 88% of deaths attributed to swine flu.
Chief Medical Officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies told Sky News: "The biggest concern is not the numbers but that we have a fair number of young people who are suffering from severe flu or are in critical care beds, and that's because we've got swine flu come back again."
Dr Alan McNally, a molecular biology expert at Nottingham Trent University, said he believed last year's swine flu pandemic virus had returned as a normal seasonal flu.
Flu pandemic call centres were set up last year as swine flu hit
"What you are now seeing is last year's pandemic virus, which was referred to as swine flu, is doing what it would be expected to do if you were an influenza biologist," he said.
"It's come back as what is now normal seasonal flu - it's a bit of a worry, the number of people in intensive care," he said.
"I think it comes down to the fact that this time last year, the uptake of the vaccine wasn't as strong as it should have been."
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley acknowledged that the 43% take-up rate for the flu vaccine among the younger, at-risk groups - such as pregnant women - was lower than last year.
However he rejected Opposition suggestions that the fall was due to the Government's decision not to run an advertising campaign this year.
"I don't think that an advertising campaign would have necessarily made any difference," he said.
"We know who are the groups that we need to call for vaccination - that's what we are doing with the general practitioners."
Chief Medical Officer Prof Dame Sally Davies speaking to Sky NewsThe biggest concern is not the numbers but that we have a fair number of young people who are suffering from severe flu or are in critical care beds, and that's because we've got swine flu come back again
According to the DoH the figures of those affected are in line with what is expected for this time of year, however it has released a list of those at risk and advised to get flu jabs.
However Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, John Healey, called on Mr Lansley to launch an immediate national campaign to encourage take up of flu vaccinations among those at greatest risk.
Mr Healey said: "The only attention he has paid to preparations for this winter's flu outbreak was to axe the autumn advertising campaign to encourage people to get vaccinated and make them aware of the risks.
Prof Davies sought to reassure the public that there is no overburden being placed on the NHS as a result of the increased flu numbers.
"It is less than 15% of the critical care beds standing at the moment and the NHS has plenty of capacity and capability," she said.
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