Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of the 2017-18 influenza season for respiratory health.

Seasonal influenza surveillance arrangements are in place to monitor influenza throughout the year. These systems look to determine the level of influenza-like illness in the community and provide this information to relevant organisations and government departments. Public Health England is responsible for monitoring data on influenza activity on a weekly basis during the winter months, and this data is carefully assessed on an ongoing basis. Current data shows low levels of flu activity.

Monitoring enables prompt identification of any increases in influenza activity to forewarn communities and the specific influenza strains involved and any changes in the virus. This information informs public health recommendations to clinicians, such as the use of antivirals in primary care and the management of seasonal influenza on respiratory health. Maximising uptake of flu immunisation, including amongst those with chronic respiratory disease, remains a key strategy.

International surveillance data identifies trends in seasonal influenza across different parts of the world. While this provides useful information, it cannot be assumed that influenza activity observed in other countries predicts the influenza strains which might circulate in the United Kingdom nor the level of seasonal influenza activity.