Fed up of hearing about the flu

[SpoonBaloon]

I know I’m being unreasonable but am I the only one who’s getting wound up by the constant coverage of the flu on every national news outlet?

It is December. Of course the flu is going around! Every winter we hear about the NHS being overwhelmed.

I can accept minor coverage but it’s been the main story for days on end and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to stop! And I know the flu kills and people need to be aware to take precautions but surely people don’t need it to be pointed out to them that they have an increased chance of catching the cold or flu in the run up to Christmas?

I was deathly ill with it last year but luckily have managed to avoid it up to now.

You ve never had flu if you believe that tosh.

Unpleasant is a cold, flu, even for healthy people can be debilitating, with affects lasting several weeks.

Flu didn't disappear during CV, we just weren't mixing and the strains were weaker, people who had it stayed at home, so spread was far less, now business expect you to come into work whatever.

Nine days in, vaccinated so getting the 'mild' effects, adequately warm and dry house, food and meds available, healthy apart from mild asthma, and still feeling grim.

Interesting that they're comparing this strain to the 1968 Hong Kong flu, that I remember my dad talking about as being remarkably nasty.

How can you believe that's true when you look at the history of vaccination and what it has achieved? Does nature knows best apply to treating illnesses too, and if not, what's the difference?

So much money was spent on temporary hospitals, converting conference centres. It was crazy that we didn't build permanent hospitals.
They have been going on about the next flu pandemic,,knowing it is overdue and knowing it will happen sooner or later

Sick of it! If I didn’t read the news I would happily go about my life without worrying about the flu. I did take the vaccine when I was pregnant but not otherwise and I’ve never had the flu. I think you can definitely avoid it by being hygienic and considerate; don’t go out amongst people if you’ve got a stinking cold/ flu for example! So many people do, I hate it.
I’m also sick of people not coughing and sneezing in their elbow as well as not washing and sanitising their hands frequently. It is disgusting and such an easy way of stopping spreading illness!

That cannot be inferred frim that data point!

Your suggestion doesnt work the very young, old, pregnant or immunosuppressed. It doesnt csre about economic productiviy or keeping frontline healthcare running, and no good for anyone who is run down anyway and perhaps hosting over Christmas!

My son and husband both have flu.I would much rather watch TV coverage than change soaking wet bed sheets through sweat.My son has lost spprox 4kg that he didn't have to lose.

It’s a good way to get rid of idiotic people though! The ones that think vaccines are more harmful.

If they think vaccines are harmful then they should naturally avoid ALL medicines and, well if you go to the dentist don't have an anaesthetic! Or if you have aches and pains, no analgesics! Avoid food because pesticides! Just don't breathe - pollution! 🙀

And never visit a doctor, never take antibiotics and definitely not when the immune system is overwhelmed.

I've only ever heard of one person who lives by the sword. Hes looking for a new mother for his kids because his wife died from untreated breast cancer. There's a long list of wants for his next lady. No vaccines, no doctors or midwives, natural remedies, kids are unschooled and no routine and he lives offgrid.

He's the only one who completely believes in the immune system. Every other person is a hypocrite. All mouth when it comes down to the nitty gritty.

Look up how many flu cases there are, then how many hospitals there are and do the math. Hardly overwhelmed , stop listening to MSM. My sister is a hospital doctor and she says they mare exaggerating.

Oh no that's awful!!! His poor kids.

Our immune systems are fantastic but not infallible. Viruses and bacteria constantly evolve to try to beat it. Sometimes they succeed.

But it's not about the total number of flu cases and the total number of hospitals, is it? That's like saying there is no poverty in the world: just look at the amount of money in the world and the number of people

It doesn't just get rid of those though does it. Those that are vaccinated protect others through herd immunity. My Son missed his vaccine and my husband wasn't entitled to it just yet.He was going to pay for it due to the amount of people with it but was too late.

Obviously that isn"t working though as we are told every year that the NHS is going to be "overwhelmed", so either the vaccines don"t do this or not enough people get them? Hordes of people going abroad or whatever thinking they have a magic bullet with the vaccine probably prolonged Covid IMO as they were spreading it around all over the place instead of isolating as they should have done, or at least not travelling. The only way to tackle outbreaks, this present flu is a bad one, is to start shutting down, schools, libraries, Christmas Markets etc. this at least slows the spread a bit?

Just like COVID times you mean?

Is this flu in certain areas. Not heard of anyone near me having got ir

I don’t think it’s had enough coverage at all, especially with junior doctors going on strike very soon. Some wards are closed to new admissions and it’s perk season for asthma attacks.

It’s hard to know what to think. The numbers of people actually hospitalized seem minuscule. My local hospital is supposedly one of the worst affected, on red alert, warning people to die quietly at home rather than seek help, etc. And yet only 5% of their beds contain flu patients. 🤷‍♀️

"Just like COVID times you mean?"

Yes, but not so extreme, just places people will go and spend hours of their time with strangers (Schools, libraries, Christmas Markets etc.) If you want to chill in the park that"s OK.

Media has been trumpeting about it for a while, from personal experience this year has been the worst ever for persistent and continuous infections, sneezing, coughing etc. You would need to be pretty rural I think not to see people coughing and spluttering all over the place?

https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/37649213/hospitals-overwhelmed-superflu-strikes-lives-lost/

I live in the red circle. No highlights of flu bits there

And people cough and sneeze with a COLD . Doesn't mean they have flu

This is helpful in explaining the current situation:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/dec/15/flu-season-peaked-early-nhs#comments

Nope

many staff are off sick also with flu

Yes, but you are still basically surrounded by it and it is all over the news (to be fair the media are probably trumpeting worst case scenarios as usual) This quote from the other link sums up the present "thing" perfectly for me.....

"I've had this flu for about 2 weeks now - it's not the worst ever, but it's tough to shift off the chest"

Describing it as "flu" could be debated but there are Covid like symptoms attached and you can"t be in work for example having to basically bend over coughing every few minutes, this is disruptive and potentially dangerous to some.