Hospitals in Bristol are struggling as they are under extreme pressure during the winter season. The Bristol NHS Group said that due to high levels of seasonal illness, all healthcare facilities are seeing a significant increase in patients coming into hospitals. Factors like flu and harsh weather also contributed to the strain on the NHS.

In a state, Group Chief Medical Officer, Professor Tim Whittlestone said,, “Winter pressures are being felt across all our local NHS services. Hospital sites within the Bristol NHS Group are currently experiencing exceptionally high demand. If you require urgent medical assistance and are unsure where to go, please contact NHS 111 for guidance. If you have an appointment, please attend as usual unless you hear from us.”

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The UK Health Security Agency has already issued an Amber Cold Health-Alert for the South West of England this morning. The alert says that there is an increased risk of mortality rates for those above the age of 65. The alert also notes that anyone of younger age could too be at potential health risk during extreme weather.

How Long Will This Cold Last?

The UK Health Security Agency or the UKHSA and Met Office extended the duration of the current amber cold health alert. All regions of England will remain under the alert until 10am on Friday, January 9.

As per the Weather Health Alerting System, introduced by UKHSA and the Met Office, an amber cold health alert means that cold weather impacts are likely to be felt across the health and social care sector, with potential for the whole population to be at risk. Other sectors may also be impacted, which will necessitate a coordinated response.

As temperatures go low, it is predicted that health care services for the vulnerable population would be increased, along with an increase in risk to health for individuals aged 65 years and those living with serious health condition. Other vulnerable groups could be those sleeping rough.

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Dr Paul Coleman, Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA, said: " The weather is forecast to be very cold across England over the coming few days. Low temperatures like these can have serious impacts on the health of some people, particularly older people and those with serious health conditions. Exposure to cold can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections. It is therefore really important, as the colder weather sets in, to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable."

High Pressure On Hospitals

NHS England too have stressed that "pressures on hospitals remain incredibly high" with concerns that conditions could worsen with the cold snap, reported The Independent. As per the new NHS figures, 3,061 flu patients are in a hospital each day in the week ending December 21, while this is down from the average 3,140, in the week before, top doctor is saying that England is "not out of danger yet". Authorities are constantly urging people to get their flu jabs, which will help in protecting them and also ease the pressure on the hospitals.

Flu cases are rising in the US, with the virus exploding across the country. Like many experts have earlier pointed that that this would be the 'worst season' and that 'it is not over yet'. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC data too tells us that records are reaching all time highs in some cases.

What Does CDC Data Say About Increased Flu Activity In US?

For the first time since 1997, when flu data was first tracked, 8% of visits to doctors related to flu or flu-like illness and symptoms the week ending with December 27 has increased. Hospitalization too increased by 48% week over week, which has now amounted to 120,000 hospitalization and 5,000 deaths so far in this season.

The CDC data shows that just under 33% or 23,350 of the 70,757 fly tests were reported positive to the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System. This was also up by 9% during the first week of December.

Regions like Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming reported numbers as high as over 45%. CDC also noted "very high" activity in the Northeast, the week ending with December 27, including in New York, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

Wastewater data by WasterWaterSCAN, a Stanford University-led tool also tracked the spread of the disease and said that the flu activity was "high". It noted that the activity increased by 146%.

Why Is This Season's Flu The Worst One Yet?

This year's flu came after the flu vaccination was made, which means the current vaccination does not align with the mutation, however, experts have pointed out that it still continues to offer protection against the illness. This season's flu is a mutation of H3N2 or influenza A, called the subclade K, or what people are calling 'super flu'.

This is the culprit in rising flu cases, globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) on its website said that K variant marks "a notable evolution in influenza A (H3N2) viruses". Some are also questioning the effectiveness of this season's influenza vaccine against the strain.

Read: Unique Symptoms Of Flu In 2026 And How Long Infection Now Last

The flu virus is highly contagious and spreads easily in crowded places, especially during the colder months.

In some cases, the infection can progress to the lungs, which could lead to complications like bronchitis or pneumonia. Yale Medicine too notes that this virus could attack the respiratory system, including throat, nose, and lungs.

What Are The Common Symptoms This Season For The Flu?

K variant causes more intense flu symptoms, they include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose

Are The Old Vaccines Effective Against This New Variant?

"The vaccine remains the most effective means to prevent disease. We still want to encourage people to get the vaccine," said Professor Antonia Ho, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Infectious Diseases at the University of Glasgow. Experts have stressed enough on the immunity that one can receive from the vaccine that that these flu jab remain the best defense against the flu, even though the current strain circulated may have drifted away from the strain included in this year's jab.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also show that vaccines is performing as expect, despite the emergence of subclade K.

The Food and Drug Administration or FDA recalled cheese from one of the largest importers and distributers of specialty cheese from Italy over listeria contamination. As per FDA, seven different products have been issued a Class I recall. The recalls were initiated by The Ambriola Company's headquarters in West Caldwell, New Jersey. While the recalls were initiated at the end of November, the FDA signed classifications for the contaminated cheese on January 6.

Which Cheese Products Are Recalled For Listeria Contamination By FDA?

• 1.5 lb. plastic bags of grated Sam’s Pecorino Romano, 12 units per case

1,015 bags were recalled

• 10-pound plastic bags of Pinna Grated Pecorino Romano 2/10

45 bags were recalled

• 5-pound plastic bags of Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano

405 bags were recalled

• 6 oz. plastic cup and lid Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano

2,106 units were recalled

• 5 and 10-pound plastic bags of Ambriola Piccante grated Pecorino Romano

179 bags were recalled

• 48/8 oz. shipper, plastic cup and lid, Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano

184 units were recalled

• 5 and 10-pound plastic bags of Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano

964 bags were recalled

What Is Listeria?

This is a bacterial pathogen which is responsible for listeriosis. This is a serious foodborne illness. It thrives in various environment, including soil, water, and food processing facilities and is gram-positive and rod-shaped in its nature. It can also grow at refrigeration temperature which can then infect dairy products, deli meats, seafood, and unpasteurized milk.

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC(, Listeria are bacteria or germs that can contaminate many food and those who eat can get infected with the bacteria. CDC mentions that it is rare, however, could be serious, though there exists steps to prevent this infection.

It is a foodborne illness caused by the bacteria L. monocytogenes. Symptoms include fever, chills, and headache. It can cause invasive illness and intestinal illness. It is also the third leading cause of deaths from foodborne illness in the US, with 1,600 people infected each year, out of which 260 die.

Symptoms often appear within two weeks of consuming Listeria-contaminated food, but can appear as early as the same day or as late as ten weeks later.

A fever, muscle aches, and fatigue are common symptoms of pregnancy.

People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.

Read: FDA Launches An Online Tool That Can Check Contaminant Levels In Foods

What Are The Different Types Of Food Contamination?

Some of the common examples could be Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. These microorganism can also multiply rapidly under favorable conditions, which poses health risks.

Chemical contamination

This happens when food comes in contact with chemicals which can lead to contamination. These chemicals could be of wide range, including pesticides, food additives cleaning agents, or toxins from contaminated water. Consuming chemically contaminated food can lead to acute poisoning or long term health issues.

Physical contamination

This means that foreign objects have contaminated the food, which may include glass, metal shavings, plastic or food. Often times, these contaminants find their way into food during processing and preparation.

Allergen contamination

This is could involve the unintentional transfer of food allergens. It may occur while using a share equipment, utensils, surfaces, or airborne particles that makes the food unsafe.

In a recent episode of Soha Ali Khan’s YouTube podcast 'All About Her', actor Genelia D'Souza told viewers that she does not feed her children ghee over fears of blocking their arteries and causing heart damage.

She told Khan, "Ghee was never a very big part of my diet. I’ve always been more conscious because cholesterol issues run in my family. Whether it was non-vegetarian food or anything else, it was always on my mind, I didn’t want to go overboard.

"We start building habits early. You can't keep feeding children excessive amounts of certain foods and then expect them to suddenly not be overweight and head to the gym later in life. It has to make sense."

The 38-year-old mother-of-two soon clarified that she considers ghee to be a problem when consumed in excess. D'Souza, who follows a strict plant-based lifestyle, explained that ghee, a known superfood, stays far away from her diet and instead she prefers to consume sesame seeds (til) for similar benefits.

She also addressed questions about giving up ghee and butter, stating, "I enjoyed a little bit of ghee and butter, but only in tiny portions. So when I eventually gave it up, it wasn’t a big deal," while acknowledging the sensory appeal of ghee, "I know it’s very tasty and it smells amazing."

Is Ghee Indeed Bad For You?

Made from cow milk butter, ghee contains about 130 calories and 15 grams of fat on average. It is also known to be rich in Vitamin A, D, K and E as well antioxidants.

However due to its high saturated fat content, some experts claim ghee can raise bad cholesterol levels in some people. While saturated fats help control high cholesterol and promote good heart health only apply when it is consumed in moderation. Ghee consumed in excess is indeed unhealthy.

However, it also contains beneficial fats (like omega-3s & CLA) and fat-soluble vitamins, offering potential anti-inflammatory benefits in small amounts, making it a balanced choice for many when balanced with overall diet and lifestyle.

A 1999 Indian Journal of Dairy & Biosciences study also noted that when researchers studied Indian men in a rural population who ate high amounts of ghee, they showed a significantly lower prevalence of coronary heart disease.

High doses of medicated ghee decreased serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol levels in those suffering from psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune skin condition causing rapid skin cell buildup, leading to red, scaly, itchy patches, often on scalp, elbows, knees and back.

Who Should Avoid Ghee?

Experts recommend those suffering from conditions such as heart, digestive and kidney issues as well as obesity to steer clear from the superfood. Cholesterol patients should also avoid ghee as it is rich in fatty acids that may increase blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease.

Lastly, those suffering from jaundice should also avoid it as it can cause major problems for the liver. Doctors suggest consuming not more than two teaspoons of ghee every day as it may pose certain health risks.