Warning further waves of flu could follow as deaths double in just a week

Despite weekly cases dropping by 25 per cent, Scots have been warned that potential further waves of a winter flu outbreak could follow.

Statistics released by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show 67 deaths were recorded in the week to December 15 where flu was the underlying cause, up from 30 the previous week.

The NRS figures show 76 death certificates mentioned flu in the latest week, up from 37 the previous week, although deaths tend to lag behind the number of positive cases.

Meanwhile, new data published by Public Health Scotland, found there were 1,918 recorded cases of flu in Scotland in the week to December 14, a decline from 2,410 the previous week.

READ MORE: Flu Scotland: Flu deaths in Scotland double in one week, figures show

The figures also show a test positivity rate of 22.9 per cent, down from this year’s peak the previous week of 27.6 per cent. The rate of flu per 100,000 of the population also fell from 43.4 to 34.6.

However, in Aberdeen the number of people in hospital has slightly fallen but remains the highest in the last decade, for this time of year. NHS Grampian said flu numbers usually peaked sometime between early January and mid-February, with potential for “the number of people hospitalised, and ill in the community, to grow further in the coming days and weeks.”

Dr Kim Marsh, viral respiratory pathogens lead at Public Health Scotland, said the latest national data suggested flu activity in Scotland “may be starting to decrease after several weeks of rapid increases” and “may have passed this peak”.

READ MORE: Warning Scotland's flu outbreak could 'overwhelm' NHS wards as spread raised to 'high level'

“While each flu season is unique and peaks are not always predictable, we have now seen reassuring declines across a range of demographics and systems, including reductions in case numbers and activity levels in younger age groups.”

Dr Marsh added: "Public Health Scotland continues to closely monitor our data for seasonal activity.

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“It is worth noting that although we may have passed this peak, in some flu seasons, there can be more than one wave of flu because different types of flu circulate at different times. For example, in Scotland, we typically see flu B circulating in the first few months of the new year, and this can cause a second rise in flu cases.

"Because of this, there’s still time to get protected if you’re eligible for a flu vaccine this winter.”

Scottish Labour health spokesperson, Jackie Baillie said “It is a tragedy that lives are being lost to this flu outbreak and action must be taken to protect Scots moving forward.

“The SNP government started this year’s vaccine programme late despite the severe risks this flu poses and the levels of those vaccinated is lower.

“The SNP must ensure that those who need vaccines are able to access them and must tackle the dangerous chaos in our NHS before more lives are lost.”

SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “As flu typically peaks in late December or January, driven by the socialising we do over Christmas and New Year, I would urge those eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible to help protect each other and our NHS this winter.”

He added: “Evidence shows that this year’s vaccine does a good job of preventing hospital admissions for the strains currently circulating

.“As of 14 December, more than 1.3 million adult flu vaccines have been delivered - over 112,000 more than this point last winter. The total number of flu vaccinations delivered this season, including over 499,000 children’s vaccines, is more than 1.8 million.”