An early, H3N2-dominant flu season is already starting to impact ambulance and prehospital services. This rapid update will summarise what we know about the circulating H3N2 strain, its clinical implications, and what this means for frontline crews over the coming weeks.
We’ll focus on practical, prehospital-relevant points: recognising higher-risk patients, making safe conveyance decisions, and applying proportionate infection prevention and control measures in ambulances, patient homes and other prehospital environments. We’ll also touch on vaccination, antivirals and workforce protection for staff.
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Describe the current H3N2 situation and why this season is different.
- Recognise high-risk patients and red-flag features in the prehospital setting.
- Apply proportionate IPC measures for suspected influenza in ambulances and patient homes.
- Understand the role of vaccination and antivirals and how to support early use.
- Anticipate operational impacts on demand, conveyance and workforce.
Who should attend?
- Paramedics, EMTs and ambulance clinicians
- IPC leads and managers in ambulance services
- Prehospital physicians / advanced practitioners
- EOC / clinical hub staff and other colleagues involved in urgent and emergency care pathways
If you are an IPS member and would like to attend please email [email protected]