More than 700 people need critical care treatment as flu cases surge

Pressure on hospitals rose sharply in the last week of 2010 as the number of people with flu in critical care (intensive care and high dependency) more than doubled, rising to 738 in the week ending 30 December from 460 in the previous week. Of the people receiving critical care treatment 42 were children under 5 years, said the Department of Health.

Twelve people in the UK died from flu in the week ending 30 December, bringing the total number of deaths since the flu season began in October to 39.

According to the …