As the festive season approaches, the head of NHS England has called on UK residents to get vaccinated to combat a surge in festive flu cases. This winter has seen a marked rise in flu, norovirus (commonly known as the winter vomiting bug), and RSV (a virus causing cold and cough-like symptoms), sparking concerns among health officials.Last week alone, UK hospitals admitted an average of 1,861 flu patients daily—a sharp increase from 1,099 the previous week and 402 during the same period last year. With the uptick in illnesses ahead of Christmas, experts have warned of a potential quad-demic, describing the situation as a looming tidal wave that could overwhelm healthcare systems.What is festive fluFestive flu, also known as Festival Flu or Coachella Cough, is a colloquial term for illnesses that people commonly contract during crowded events like music or film festivals. According to the American Lung Association, these illnesses include colds, flus, and even more severe infections.Common symptoms of festive flu include coughing, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, fever, and body aches. Dr. Cedric Jamie Rutland, a pulmonary and critical care physician, notes that it is not a specific illness but a combination of factors such as lack of sleep, poor nutrition, dehydration, and excessive shouting or screaming.
