What is the ‘quad-demic’ – and how can you protect yourself?
Four illnesses are circulating in the UK this winter, in what has been dubbed the “quad-demic”.
Over a year since the official end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is still prominent, with the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) monitoring its activity levels weekly.
The governmental department also monitors levels of flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and norovirus, which all peak at different times during the season.
It is these four that make up the “quad-demic”, which one NHS doctor said can affect everyone – including the “fit and healthy”.
What is the ‘quad-demic’?
The term “quad-demic” refers to the “four very common viral illnesses that circulate every winter in different peaks,” Dr David Lloyd, an NHS GP told Sky News Breakfast.
The risk and complication rate of people catching all four of these illnesses at once heightens at this time of the year, hence the term, he added.
It comes as weekly figures released by the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) on Thursday showed an increase of flu, RSV and norovirus.
COVID-19 was the only one where levels remained stable, but this could change week-on-week.
Data showed that RSV – which is a common cause of coughs and colds – was circulating at “medium levels”, with “increases seen in most age groups”. Hospital admissions and A&E visits caused by RSV also increased.
Flu – or influenza – activity levels increased, with a weekly mean positivity rate of 6.5%, while norovirus increased across all age groups, with adults aged 65 or over particularly affected, according to the UKHSA.
It said reports of the winter vomiting bug between 4-17 November were “almost double” the average of the past five seasons for the same two-week period.
Dr Lloyd explained that illness in winter happens more frequently because people spend more time in their houses together and socialising over Christmas.
“This is peak time so even if you are fit and healthy, your chances of catching all of these illnesses if quite high,” he said.
How can you protect yourself?
“Vaccines work against the quad-demic,” Dr Lloyd emphasised.
In fact, by getting vaccinated you halve your risk of catching any of the four illnesses, he said.
The NHS provides vaccinations against three of the four illnesses; flu, COVID-19 and, as of September this year, RSV.
The new RSV vaccine was developed as the illness can prove to be extremely dangerous for young babies and older people, especially those with heart or lung conditions, according to the NHS.
The health service said the vaccine would be a “game changer” and could typically prevent 5,000 infant hospitalisations and 2,500 adult hospitalisations.
Dr Lloyd says vaccines ‘work against the quad-demic’. Pic: iStock
Analysis of the latest NHS vaccination data showed 335 vaccinations were given for COVID, flu and RSV per minute on average from 30 September to 17 November.
This works out at around 3.4 million vaccinations a week.
In total, nearly 25 million vaccinations have been delivered for the three illnesses since rollout began in September.
Dr Lloyd added that getting only one vaccination could help protect people from other illnesses due to what is known as viral interference.
“If you have had a vaccine against one of these diseases, it is triggering your body to produce non-specific chemicals that fight viruses in general. So by having one vaccine, you are protecting yourself against others as well,” he said.
“These illnesses all occur in different peaks, so it makes sense to get the flu vaccine because that’s the one that comes earliest, that will increase your chances of being protected against the quadruple, the triple, the double and the single infection.”
How to stop the spread if you are ill?
As with any spread of germs, it is best to wash your hands with soap and water and avoid close contact with others if you are ill, the NHS advises.
If you have diarrhoea or vomiting, the NHS says not to return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.
Dr Lloyd added that although mask wearing has “gone out of fashion”, wearing a face covering will also help prevent the spread.
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“We [the NHS] gear ourselves up for dealing with these illnesses every year and I think it is going to be tough,” he said.
“But if we all do the things that we are meant to do, which is get vaccinated and be sensible, I think we will all come through.”
The NHS advises asking for an urgent GP appointment or getting help by calling 111 if you are worried about your or a relative’s symptoms.
If symptoms become more serious, it is advised to call 999 or go to A&E.
An amber warning has been issued for snow in a part of the UK, likely to cause travel delays and “stranding some vehicles and passengers”.
The warning, which covers south west England, also warns some rural communities could become cut off and is in place until 2pm this evening.
Pic: Met Office
There is also a yellow weather warning for snow covering the southern counties of England until midnight on Wednesday.
The warning stretches from Kent to Cornwall and up to south London and the Met Office said between 2cm and 5cm of snow could accumulate fairly widely, with as much as 10cm over higher ground.
This week is expected to see the coldest nights of the year, with temperatures potentially reaching -14C on Wednesday night and -16C on Thursday night, both in the North East of England and Scotland, the Met Office said.
Weather warnings issued on Tuesday for snow and ice covering the parts of Wales, the North West of England, west and northern parts of Scotland as well as Northern Ireland will remain in place until midnight tomorrow.
The forecaster said some roads and railways are likely to be affected and there could be icy patches on untreated roads.
Pics: AP
Meanwhile the Environment Agency has said at least 300 properties have flooded across England since New Year’s Eve. It estimates more than 41,000 properties have been protected.
Heavy rainfall over the New Year caused significant river and surface water flooding across the North West of England and Yorkshire and snowmelt has brought further disruption to parts of England, particularly the Midlands, the agency said.
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Floods minister Emma Hardy said: “My sympathies go out to the people, businesses and communities impacted by the recent flooding across the country.
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. People must continue to follow their advice and sign up for flood warnings.”
Flood warnings
Some 100 flood warnings were in force across England on Wednesday, with people urged to remain vigilant over the coming days.
A danger-to-life warning was issued on Tuesday morning for the River Soar near Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, but was later removed.
People living in caravan parks in the area were urged by the Environment Agency to act, with a large-scale evacuation needed to save lives.
Firefighters have rescued dozens of people across Leicestershire since Monday, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said.
Hundreds of schools were closed across the UK, with road and rail links blocked, as Manchester, Bristol and Liverpool John Lennon airports suspended flights because of the conditions.
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