What Is Festive Flu? Understanding The Illness Linked To Seasonal Celebrations

The head of NHS England has urged people in the UK to get vaccinated before Christmas as cases of “festive flu” continue to rise. This winter, the UK has seen a sharp increase in flu, norovirus (the winter vomiting bug), and RSV (a virus causing cold and cough-like symptoms).

Last week, an average of 1,861 flu patients were admitted to hospitals daily, up from 1,099 the previous week and 402 during the same period last year.

With illnesses surging ahead of the festive season, health officials have warned of a potential “quad-demic” and even described the situation as a looming “tidal wave” for hospitals.

What is Festival Flu?

According to American Lung Association, the terms “Festival Flu” or “Coachella Cough” are used as an overarching slang term for various illnesses people can pick up at music and film festivals. These include colds, flus and more serious infections. As such, the most common symptoms of festival flu include coughing, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, fever and body aches. “It’s usually not a specific illness but a combination of lack of sleep, lack of nutrition screaming, shouting and dehydration,” said Cedric “Jamie” Rutland, M.D., a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician and Lung Association spokesperson.

How Do You Treat Festival Flu?

Though there is no one treatment for festival flu, drinking plenty of fluids, getting lots of rest and taking over-the-counter medications to relieve symptoms is a good place to start. If symptoms worsen or last longer than a week, you may need to consult your healthcare provider.

Attending a festival can be the highlight of the summer. Don’t dampen the rest of your summer with a cold or flu. Stay healthy and safe so that you can breathe well and sing at the top of your lungs.