Cases of flu and other respiratory conditions have increased in Wales over recent weeks, according to experts. Public Health Wales' influenza and acute respiratory infection surveillance reports that while Covid infections have dropped, confirmed flu cases have risen to indicate the start of "late seasonal activity".
Rhinovirus, the main culprit behind the common cold, and parainfluenza are currently the most commonly-detected causes of acute respiratory infection (ARI) aside from Covid, with "increasing confirmed cases in recent weeks", PHW states. During the meeting of all Senedd members on May 10, Welsh Conservative MS and Shadow Health Minister Russell George asked health minister Eluned Morgan whether she was concerned about a "wave" of these infections over the coming weeks and into the summer months.
"We are watching very carefully the increase in the numbers of people suffering with flu at the moment. We're probably more worried about it kicking off in the winter," said Mrs Morgan. "We are continuing with our 'Help Us to Help You' programme to direct people to the right care, at the right place, at the right time and that is already having an impact," she said. Despite these concerns, the health minister said these flu cases are at low levels when compared with what we would see pre-Covid during the winter period.
