Those over 65 and people with certain chronic illnesses have been advised to have vaccinations after the first case of the annual winter influenza virus in Ireland was reported.
The National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) confirmed this morning it has identified the first case of "influenza A" from cases of flu-like illness reported by a network of 35 general practitioners.
The network was established by the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC), in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the NVRL.
NDSC specialist in public health medicine Dr Joan O'Donnell said that, like last year, the first case has been detected early in the influenza season.
Overall, 149 positive cases of flu were detected through the sentinel GP network during the 2003/2004 season, peaking in November last year.
"As we enter the flu season it is recommended that people in high-risk groups get vaccinated against influenza," Dr O'Donnell said.
These include the over 65s, people with severe illness such as chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes, children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy, healthcare workers and residents of nursing homes.
Further information on the flu vaccine is available on the NDSC website: www.ndsc.ie