Flu cases expected to peak this week as hospital pressure intensifies

FLU CASES ARE expected to peak this week as Ireland enters Christmas amid already intense pressure on hospitals and emergency departments, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Figures published by the HSE on Tuesday showed that influenza is now “very active” in the community, with 3,287 reported flu cases in the week ending on 13 December.

That marks a sharp rise from just 41 cases in week 40 in early October, and follows steady increases throughout November and early December.

While the rate of growth has begun to slow, the HSE says overall infection levels continue to climb and modelling now indicates the flu season will peak during Christmas week.

HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster said the latest projections show between 800 and 1,100 people are likely to be in hospital with flu at any one time at the height of the outbreak.

“The latest modelling data available to me today is that the flu will peak Christmas week,” Gloster said.

The surge in flu cases comes as hospitals are already dealing with unprecedented demand.

Emergency departments recorded an average of more than 5,000 attendances per day in the first half of December, up sharply on the same period last year.

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Despite this, the HSE says trolley wait numbers have remained relatively stable compared to 2023, a development that Gloster attributed to additional staffing, reforms and increased resources across the system.

Alongside flu, other respiratory illnesses are also circulating.

RSV cases have risen sharply, increasing from 18 in week 40 to 435 by mid-December.

Covid-19 continues to be present at lower levels, with reported cases falling from 427 in early October to 171 in mid-December.

The HSE is urging people to take precautions in the coming days, particularly given the increased mixing of families over Christmas and the heightened risk to older people and those with underlying conditions.

Public health advice includes getting the seasonal flu vaccine, practising good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, and staying at home when unwell where possible.

People with flu symptoms are also being asked to avoid visiting vulnerable relatives in hospitals, care homes or private homes, particularly during the peak period.

There is no general advice for the public to wear masks, though the HSE says some people may choose to do so in crowded indoor spaces or where requested in healthcare settings.

The warning follows confirmation that 17 people have died from influenza so far this winter season, while 62 patients have required admission to intensive care.

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Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week programme yesterday, Cork University Hospital emergency medicine doctor Dr Seán Underwood said the flu has arrived earlier than usual and is placing sustained pressure on hospitals.

Dr Underwood added that there has been “steady stream of patients across all ages with flu-like illnesses”.

“And that’s alongside our usual emergency work. Treating people involved in car crashes, heart attacks and sepsis,” he said.

Dr Underwood said the timing of the peak, coinciding with Christmas gatherings, was a particular concern.

“All the children who are the highest transmissible rates at the moment meeting their elderly grandparents – is a worry for how we’re going to cope after Christmas,” he said.

Some hospitals have already introduced visitor restrictions in an effort to limit the spread of infection and protect vulnerable patients and staff.

The HSE continues to advise people to consider alternatives to emergency departments where appropriate, including GPs, out-of-hours services, local injury units and pharmacies, particularly during the holiday period.

While further pressure is expected in the coming days, Gloster said the health service is operating at full capacity and remains confident it can manage the seasonal surge with public cooperation.

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