Hospitalisations for influenza in England have surged by more than 50% in a week, with NHS leaders warning that the current ‘super flu’ wave shows no signs of peaking. An average of 2,660 patients per day were admitted with flu up to 7 December, a figure NHS England says is still rising and could exceed 5,000 by the 14th - equivalent to filling three hospitals. Children aged five to 14 currently have the highest positivity rates, while the sickest patients tend to be adults over 75 and children under five. Experts attribute the unusually early and severe spike to a mutated strain of H3N2, meaning population immunity may be lower than usual. Hospitalisations for norovirus are also increasing, adding further pressure as the NHS faces winter strain and the possibility of a resident doctors’ strike. Leaders have urged the British Medical Association to accept the Government’s offer and avoid additional disruption during an already critical period.