Hospitalisations of people suffering with the flu are expected to double over the coming 10 days of the festive season, a Health Service Executive expert has warned
HSE chief clinical director Dr Colm Henry warned there could be up to 900 flu cases in hospitals countrywide by the end of the year with cases expected to peak in early January.
Dr Henry outlined that there are currently more than 525 patients in hospital with flu, and an additional 155 patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. RSV symptoms make it difficult to distinguish it from the common cold or other respiratory viruses such as the flu or Covid-19. RSV spreads in the autumn and winter along with other respiratory viruses.
The cases are driving increased pressure on the healthcare system, Dr Henry pointed out.
The number of confirmed cases of influenza has increased by 260 per cent over the past two weeks, according to the latest figures from the infectious disease watchdog the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) four days ago.
There were a total of 999 cases of flu in the week ending December 14th, up from 530 the previous week and 277 the week before that.
A total of 264 patients required hospital treatment for flu last week, while there were two intensive care admissions and one death. The number of flu-related deaths this winter season stands at six.
Based on previous years, flu cases are expected to continue to rise as people return to work and children return to school next month.
The flu vaccine remains effective two weeks after people get it and it can reduce the amount of people who may get sick with the illness.
Dr Henry said a peak of 800-900 cases of hospitalisations with flu will be by the end of the year, but that an increased pressure on hospitals and on primary care settings will be expected throughout the month of January.
He said the HSE has been preparing and planning as emergency departments already have a high level of pressure on them.
The HPSC said that in general influenza outbreaks last between six to eight weeks and can affect all ages, in particular the extremes of age.
Encouraging people to book a flu vaccine, Irish Pharmacy Union president and community pharmacist Tom Murray explained that flu is a “highly infectious illness that can result in a very serious infection”.
Mr Murray continued: “Each year flu infections tend to peak in late December and into early January.
“We are seeing a significant increase in flu infections nationwide.”
Last year more than 4,000 people were hospitalised with flu and there were 214 deaths in the last year’s flu season.
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