THIS WEEK IN 1976: Flu doubles sickness claims in Portsmouth

Sick benefit claims in the Portsmouth area had almost doubled in two weeks '“ and flu seemed to be the culprit.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Feb 2018, 06:00 GMT

Portsmouth Health Department reported the number of deaths registered in the city was also higher than usual.

‘There has been a marked increase in the number of sickness benefit claims,’ said Dr D Hilton, the district community physician for Portsmouth. ‘They have almost doubled over the past two weeks.’

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Chemists in the Portsmouth area reported one of their busiest weeks.

At Tremletts Pharmacy, Fratton Road, the number of prescriptions dealt with was up by 30 per cent on an average week.

W Tremlett said the sales of cold treatments – hot lemon drinks and cough medicines – were up by 50 per cent.