Londoners are most willing to travel into work despite falling ill with flu, a new study shows.
More than four in ten said they would still go to the office even if they had symptoms, the highest of any region in the country.
Last year saw the worst flu season for a decade, with the outbreak having greater impact due to lower population immunity and little or no influenza viruses circulating during the previous two winters when pandemic control measures were in place.
So far in 2023, hospital admissions in England have fallen but there are some signs of slight increases in diagnoses among school-aged children.
The capital is now reaching pre-Covid levels of office attendance, according to lettings agents.
Around 60 per cent of workers in London expect to catch an illness this winter and the same number would wear a mask if they got flu, Savanta ComRes said.
Mercifully, over three quarters of them plan to wash their hands more regularly to prevent the spread.
Public health nutritionist Dr Emma Derbyshire said the majority of staff are unaware of vitamins and minerals which can help guard against winter illnesses.
She recommended drinking a daily glass of pure orange juice to naturally boost intake of vitamin C and folate, and five servings of fruit and vegetables per day for their vitamin A content.
Wholegrain breakfast cereals, bread and rice will promote friendly gut bacteria and one serving of oily fish weekly is rich in Omega-3 fats and immune-supporting vitamin D.
Brazil nuts are high in selenium which helps the immune system and prevents damage to cells and tissues.
Mrs Derbyshire said: “Winter illnesses will hit many of us this year as we return to normal social situations, yet it’s clear from this new survey that some are taking their eye off the ball on handwashing and staying at home to avoid infecting others.
“Whilst having a healthy diet can’t stop viruses, it can help us get over respiratory illnesses faster by supporting our natural immunity.
“An easy first step is drinking a daily glass of orange juice – just 28 per cent of consumers understand it doesn’t contain any added sugar – which is a convenient and effective source of vitamin C and folate, both proven to support normal immune function.”
