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People who become ill after recovering from flu may be at risk of meningococcal and pneumococcal disease - HPSC
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre today (Monday) asked people who have recently recovered from flu and who have become very unwell again with high fever shortly after, to seek medical attention as they may be at slight risk from meningococcal and pneumococcal disease.
HPSC has seen an increase in both diseases and while both are rare, they mostly occur in winter and can be associated with high influenza activity, says HPSC specialist in public health medicine, Dr Suzanne Cotter.
"Symptoms of meningococcal or pneumococcal meningitis or septicaemia in infants include high fever, floppiness, high pitched crying and sometimes vomiting. Older children and adults suffer from fever, malaise and headache, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness or difficulty rousing and a red rash may also occur. Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
"Battling the flu can affect someone’s natural immunity and may make them more vulnerable to infection with these bugs. The very young, the over 65s or those with chronic illness may be particularly at risk.
“A total of 26 cases of meningococcal disease were reported in December 2008 compared with 13 in December 2007. Most were reported in week 53 (end December /January) when 11 cases were notified. Six cases have been provisionally reported for the first week of January.
"Fifty-eight cases of invasive pneumococcal disease were reported at the end of December 2008 compared with 29 cases in the same period last year. Sixteen cases were reported in the last week of December and 26 cases have been provisionally notified in the first week of January.
"Vaccines to protect young children and at risk children and adults against the most common strains of pneumoccocal disease are routinely recommended. All children born since 2nd September 2006 are offered pneumococcal conjugate vaccine as part of the new vaccination programme which started in September 2008.
"Vaccination against Meningococcal Serogroup C has been available since 2000 and is routinely recommended for all children and young adults up to the age of 23 years. Older people and those with no spleens or with poorly functioning spleens are also recommended to get the MenC vaccination.
First case of winter influenza identified
The National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) has identified the first case of influenza A virus this winter. The case was detected by a network of 49 sentinel general practices who report weekly on the number of patients with influenza-like illness.
The network was established by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the NVRL in 2000.
Commenting on the case, HPSC Specialist in Public Health Medicine, Dr Derval Igoe said that the first confirmed case of influenza in Ireland this season is a reminder to all people in high-risk groups get vaccinated against influenza now.
"These include:
- The over 65s
- People with severe illness such as chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment including those who have had their spleens removed
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes, old people's homes and other long stay facilities
- Health care workers and carers of those in risk groups.
"The symptoms of influenza infection usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature. Anyone in the high risk categories who develops influenza symptoms should contact their GP."
Influenza has been detected slightly earlier this year than last year's influenza season, when the first case was reported in November 2006. Overall a total of 126 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza were detected through the sentinel network during the 2006/2007 season, peaking in February 2007.
The weekly influenza surveillance reports along with further information on influenza and flu vaccine are available at www.hpsc.ie and www.immunisation.ie.
HPSC urges high-risk categories to get vaccinated as flu continues to circulate
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre today (Wednesday) urged people in high-risk categories to get vaccinated against influenza, as the number of reported cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Ireland continues to rise.
ILI rates have risen from 72.8 per 100,000 in the last week of December 2008 to 100.6 per 100,000 in the first week of January 2009. This is the highest rate seen since the 2000/2001 influenza season.
"As influenza continues to circulate in the community, it is important that people in high-risk categories get vaccinated against influenza," says HPSC specialist in public health medicine, Dr Derval Igoe.
"High-risk groups are:
- The over 65s
- People including children with chronic illness requiring regular medical follow-up such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, and diabetes
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment, including those who have had their spleens removed
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes, old people's homes and other long stay facilities
- Health care workers and carers of those in risk groups.
"Health Professionals should use antiviral drugs for the treatment or prevention of influenza in high-risk groups.
"The symptoms of influenza usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature.
"Anyone who gets flu should stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and use over-the-counter remedies like paracetamol to ease symptoms. People in high-risk categories should contact their GP if they develop influenza symptoms.
"Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, disposing of the tissue as soon as possible and washing your hands with soap and water as soon as you can are important measures in helping prevent the spread of flu," added Dr Igoe.
ILI rates give an indication of the overall level of influenza activity in Ireland and are reported by selected GPs as part of a surveillance system jointly run by the Irish College of General Practitioners, the National Virus Reference Laboratory and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
HPSC urges high-risk categories to get vaccinated against flu as cases double over past week
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre today (Thursday) urged people in high-risk categories to get vaccinated against influenza, as the number of reported cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Ireland has doubled in the past week.
ILI rates have risen from 20.3 per 100,000 in the first week of December to 41.3 per 100,000 in the second week.
"As influenza is now circulating in the community, it is important that people in high-risk categories get vaccinated against influenza," says HPSC specialist in public health medicine, Dr Joan O'Donnell.
"High-risk groups are:
- The over 65s
- People including children with chronic illness requiring regular medical follow-up such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, and diabetes
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment, including those who have had their spleens removed
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes, old people's homes and other long stay facilities
- Health care workers and carers of those in risk groups.
"Health Professionals should use antiviral drugs for the treatment or prevention of influenza in high-risk groups.
"The symptoms of influenza usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature. Anyone in one of the high-risk categories should contact their GP if they develop influenza symptoms.
"Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, disposing of the tissue as soon as possible and cleaning your hands as soon as you can are important measures in helping prevent the spread of germs and reducing the risk of transmission," added Dr O'Donnell.
ILI rates give an indication of the overall level of influenza activity in Ireland and are reported by selected GPs as part of a surveillance system jointly run by the Irish College of General Practitioners, the National Virus Reference Laboratory and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
The weekly influenza surveillance reports and further information on influenza and flu vaccine are available at here.
First case of winter influenza identified
The National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) has identified the first case of influenza A virus this winter. The case was detected by a network of 54 sentinel general practices who report weekly on the number of patients with influenza-like illness.
The network was established by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the NVRL in 2000.
Commenting on the case, HPSC Specialist in Public Health Medicine, Dr Joan O'Donnell said that the first two confirmed cases of influenza this season have been detected even though overall influenza activity is low. In total, 150 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza were detected through the sentinel network during the 2007/2008 season, peaking in January 2008.
"As we enter the influenza season it is recommended that people in high-risk groups get vaccinated against influenza. These include:
-
The over 65s
-
People including children with severe illness such as chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes
-
Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment including those who have had their spleens removed
-
Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
-
Residents of nursing homes, old people's homes and other long stay facilities
-
Health care workers
-
Poultry workers, veterinary inspectors, agricultural workers, park rangers and those with likely contact with water fowl (as influenza puts them at risk of co-infection with avian influenza)
"The symptoms of influenza infection usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature. Anyone in the high risk categories who develops influenza symptoms should contact their GP."
The weekly influenza surveillance reports along with further information on influenza and flu vaccine are available at www.hpsc.ie
HPSC urges high-risk groups to get vaccinated against flu as cases treble over past week
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre today (Thursday) urged people in high-risk categories to get vaccinated against influenza, as the number of reported cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) reported in Ireland has trebled in the past week.
ILI rates have risen from 16.3 per 100,000 in the last week of 2007 to 52.4 per 100,000 in the first week of 2008.
"As influenza is now circulating in the community, it is important that people in high-risk categories get vaccinated against influenza," says HPSC specialist in public health medicine, Dr Joan O'Donnell.
"High-risk groups are:
- People aged 65 years or older
- People with chronic illness requiring regular medical follow-up such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, and diabetes
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment, including those who have had their spleens removed
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes, old people's homes and other long stay facilities
- Health care workers and carers of those in risk groups.
"Health professionals should use antiviral drugs for the treatment of influenza in high-risk groups.
"The symptoms of influenza infection usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature. Anyone in one of the high-risk categories should contact their GP if they develop influenza symptoms," she said.
ILI rates give an indication of the overall level of influenza activity in Ireland and are reported by selected general practitioners as part of a surveillance system jointly run by the Irish College of General Practitioners, the National Virus Reference Laboratory and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
----------------------------
The weekly influenza surveillance reports and further information on influenza and flu vaccine are available here
HPSC urges high-risk categories to get vaccinated against flu as cases more than double in two weeks
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre today (Tuesday) urged people in high-risk categories to get vaccinated against influenza, as the number of reported cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) reported in Ireland has more than doubled in the past two weeks.
The rate of ILI cases has risen to 44.5 per 100,000 population from a previous rate of 22.5 per 100,000.
"As influenza is now circulating in the community, it is important that people in high-risk categories get vaccinated against influenza," says HPSC specialist in public health medicine, Dr Joan O'Donnell.
High-risk categories include:
- The over 65s
- People with severe illness such as chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment, including those who have had their spleens removed
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes, old people's homes and other long stay facilities
- Healthcare workers
"We are advising health professionals to use antiviral drugs for the prevention or treatment of influenza in high-risk groups.
"The symptoms of influenza infection usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature. Anyone in one of the high-risk categories should contact their GP if they develop influenza symptoms," said Dr O'Donnell.
ILI rates give an indication of the overall level of influenza activity in Ireland and are reported by selected general practitioners as part of a surveillance system jointly run by the Irish College of General Practitioners, the National Virus Reference Laboratory and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
The weekly influenza surveillance reports and further information on influenza and flu vaccine are available at www.hpsc.ie.
First case of winter influenza identified
The National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) has identified the first case of influenza A (H3) virus this winter. The case was detected by a network of 46 sentinel general practices who report weekly on the number of patients with flu like illness.
The network was established by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the NVRL in 2000.
Commenting on the case, HPSC Director, Dr Darina O'Flanagan said that the first case of this season has been detected slightly earlier this year than in last year's flu season, when the first case was reported in week 52. Overall a total of 132 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza were detected through the sentinel network during the 2005/2006 season, peaking in March 2006.
"As we enter the flu season it is recommended that people in high-risk groups get vaccinated against influenza.
"These include:
- The over 65s
- People with severe illness such as chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment including those who have had their spleens removed
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes, old people's homes and other long stay facilities
- Health care workers.
"The symptoms of influenza infection usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature. Anyone in the high risk categories who develops influenza symptoms should contact their GP."
The weekly influenza surveillance reports along with further information on influenza and flu vaccine are available at www.hpsc.ie.
First case of winter influenza identified
The National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) has identified the first case of influenza A virus this winter. The case was detected by a network of 35 sentinel general practices who report weekly on the number of patients with flu like illness.
The network was established by the National Disease Surveillance Centre, in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the NVRL.
Commenting on the case, 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 a total of 149 positive cases of influenza were detected through the sentinel network during the 2003/2004 season, peaking in November 2003.
"As we enter the flu season it is recommended that people in high-risk groups get vaccinated against influenza.
"These include:
- The over 65s
- People with severe illness such as chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment including those who have had their spleens removed
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes, old people's homes and other long stay facilities
- Health care workers.
"The symptoms of influenza infection usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature. Anyone in the high risk categories who develops influenza symptoms should contact their GP."
The weekly influenza surveillance reports along with further information on influenza and flu vaccine are available at www.ndsc.ie
NDSC urges high-risk categories to get vaccinated against flu as cases more than double in two weeks
The National Disease Surveillance Centre today (Wednesday) urged people in high-risk categories to get vaccinated against influenza, as the number of reported cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) reported in Ireland has more than doubled in the past two weeks.
High-risk categories include:
- The over 65s
- People with severe illness such as chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment, including those who have had their spleens removed
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes, old people's homes and other long stay facilities
- Health care workers
"The rate of ILI cases has risen to an estimated 70 cases for every 100,000 people over the past week, the highest rate reported in Ireland for this time of year since influenza surveillance began in 2000," according to NDSC clinical microbiologist, Dr Robert Cunney.
"Influenza viruses are divided into three main types, A, B and C. Influenza A generally causes the most severe form of the disease. Different strains of influenza virus circulate worldwide every year and the influenza vaccine is updated each year to cover the strains that are likely to cause infection during the coming influenza season, usually from November to April.
"The National Virus Reference Laboratory has confirmed that the main strain circulating in Ireland is an influenza A (H3N2) Fujian-like strain. The same strain is circulating in other European countries, including the UK. This strain is slightly different to the influenza A (H3N2) Panama-like virus, which has circulated in Ireland and other European countries over the past few years. The current influenza vaccine contains the Panama-like virus and is considered to offer some protection against the Fujian-like strain and good protection against other strains that may also circulate.
"The symptoms of influenza infection usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature. Persons who are in one of the high risk categories should contact their GP if they develop influenza symptoms," said Dr Cunney.
Health authorities in the UK have reported six deaths related to influenza A in children in the past two months. It is not known if this represents a genuine increase in deaths from influenza, as it may be related to new technologies that are used to detect the influenza virus. "No deaths from influenza have been reported in Ireland, despite high levels of influenza activity, two large outbreaks in schools and the use of the same new technologies for influenza detection here," Dr Cunney explained.
ILI rates give an indication of the overall level of influenza activity in Ireland and are reported by selected general practitioners as part of a surveillance system jointly run by the Irish College of General Practitioners, the National Virus Reference Laboratory and the National Disease Surveillance Centre.
First two cases of flu virus identified
The National Virus Reference Laboratory has identified the first two cases of influenza virus this winter, with recorded flu activity broadly in line with this time last year.
The cases - one influenza A (H3N2) and one influenza B - were identified by a network of 33 sentinel general practices, who report weekly on the number of patients with flu like illness.
The network was established by the National Disease Surveillance Centre, in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners and the National Virus Reference Laboratory, and produces a weekly influenza surveillance report.
Dermot Nolan from the Irish College of General Practitioners said that last year the first positive cases of influenza virus were also detected in January.
"Overall, a total of 65 positive cases of influenza virus were detected during the 2001/2002 season, peaking in February 2002," he said.
The weekly influenza surveillance reports, along with further information on influenza and the flu vaccine are available here.
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