Warnings to take precautions as flu cases are set to continue to rise across the country

There are warnings that flu cases in Wales will continue to rise with knock-on impacts on the ambulance service and hospitals.

Public Health Wales says they have recorded a "medium intensity" of influenza cases, adding there are still more weeks before we expect to peak.

Dr Giri Shankar said, "We are seeing an increase in the number of respiratory infections which are expected at this time of the year".

He said instances of these illnesses are being detected in "primary care and in hospitals". Dr Shankar added, "The trends seem to be increasing in the last few weeks".

The Welsh Ambulance Service declared a critical incident at the start of the week after what it described as "an acute accumulation of [...] pressures." That incident has since been stood down but the service is warning people to only call 999 if absolutely necessary.

"At the moment the indicators are suggesting that we haven't peaked yet. Our surveillance indicators suggest we are in what we call 'medium intensity' at the moment and we expect it to go up over the next couple of weeks before it starts to go down", explained Dr Shankar.

Health experts are urging people to make sure to take precautions to protect themselves against flu, including taking a flu vaccine if you are eligible. Data shows that the number of people who have taken up the offer of vaccination is lower than usual.

Those eligible include people with kidney disease or heart problems, those who have suffered a stroke, anyone with epilepsy or if you have a weak immune system due to disease or treatment.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…