This interactive bulletin reports on the latest epidemiology of
COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other
respiratory viruses (ORVs) in Ireland. HPSC monitors several integrated
respiratory virus surveillance systems that are included in this
bulletin. This report will be published weekly during the winter season
(week 40 to week 20).
How to use this interactive bulletin
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Key messages
During week 5 2025, influenza activity in Ireland remained at high
levels, although notified influenza cases and hospitalisations have
decreased during the last four weeks. Influenza hospital bed occupancy
remains stable. Sentinel GP influenza positivity declined during the
last five weeks, but remained above the 10% positivity threshold at
36.4%. Influenza A(H1)pdm09 is the predominant influenza virus
circulating, with influenza A(H3) and B virus detections reported at
lower levels. In week 5, RSV notifications and hospitalisations
decreased for the fourth consecutive week while COVID-19 activity
remained at low levels.
Summary for week 5
2025
Primary Care Surveillance
The sentinel GP Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) consultation rate
remained stable in week 5 2025 at 103.9/100,000 population. The highest
rates were in those aged <5 years at 318.4/100,000 population.
Sentinel GP influenza positivity decreased to 36.4%, but remained above
the 10% positivity threshold levels. Sentinel GP RSV and all other
seasonal respiratory pathogens are circulating at lower levels and are
below baseline. The proportion of GP-OOH calls for self-reported cough
was above threshold levels for all age groups. The proportion of
self-reported flu calls decreased in all age-groups except those aged
0-4 years, and was below baseline in all age groups except for those
aged 15-64 years.
COVID-19
COVID-19 activity remained at low levels across all indicators in
week 5 2025, with a decrease in case numbers and hospitalisations
compared to week 4. COVID-19 cases decreased by 27.0%, from 129 cases
notified in week 4 to 94 cases in week 5. Hospitalised cases decreased
by 18.0%, from 45 cases in week 4 to 37 cases in week 5. ICU admissions
and deaths remained low. XEC was the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant and
accounted for 73.5% of samples sequenced between week 50 2024 and week
03 2025. Due to technical difficulties, up-to-date wastewater graphs are
not available. However, SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater remain low.
Influenza
Influenza activity decreased in week 5 2025, for the fourth
consecutive week. The number of notified influenza cases decreased by
28% to 1,051 cases in week 5, compared to 1,455 reported in week 4.The
overall notification rate was 20.4/100,000 population and was highest in
those aged 1-4 years at 68.2/100,000 population, followed by those aged
less than one year at 65.7/100,000 population. There were 222
hospitalisations, no ICU admissions and two deaths notified during week
5. For the season to date (weeks 40 2024 to week 5 2025), 185 ICU
admissions and 161 deaths have been reported. Influenza hospital bed
occupancy remained stable during week 5. Influenza A(H1)pdm09 is the
predominant virus circulating this season, followed by influenza B and
influenza A(H3). Influenza B notified cases remain at low levels and
have been declining in recent weeks. Among all notified influenza cases
during week 5 2025, 30% (315) were influenza B.
RSV
The number of notified RSV cases continued to decline in week 5 2025,
with 323 cases notified compared to 377 in week 4 2025. The overall
notification rate declined to 6.3/100,000 population. In week 5 2025,
the notification rate was highest in those aged less than one year at
88.2/100,000 population, followed by those aged 80 years and over at
44.7/100,000 population. There were 104 hospitalisations, no ICU
admissions and one death reported in week 5 2025. For the season to date
(weeks 40 2024 to week 5 2025), 70 ICU admissions and seven deaths have
been reported.
Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI)
Based on data from two sentinel hospital sites (SVUH & UHL), in
week 5 2025, a decrease in incidence rates per 1,000 hospital admissions
via emergency departments was observed in both those aged <15 years
(32.7% decrease) and aged ≥15 years (29.3% decrease). SARS-CoV-2
positivity remained at low levels decreasing from 2.9% in week 4 to 2.4%
in week 5; influenza positivity increased from 33.8% in week 4 to 39.0%
in week 5 and RSV positivity increased from 18.3% in week 4 to 19.5% in
week 5.
Outbreaks
The overall number of respiratory virus outbreaks have decreased
during week 5. A total of seven COVID-19 outbreaks (six in hospitals and
one in a residential institution) were reported during week 5, with the
total number of outbreaks remaining stable since week 4. Nine influenza
outbreaks (three in hospitals, five in nursing homes and one in a
community hospital) were reported in week 5, a decrease from 18
outbreaks in week 4. Eight RSV outbreaks (five in hospitals, two in
nursing homes and one in an other healthcare service) and five other ARI
outbreaks (three in nursing homes, one in a residential institution and
one in an other healthcare service) were also notified during week 5
2025.
Technical notes
General
Data are provisional and subject to ongoing review, validation and
update. As a result, figures in this report may differ from previously
published figures.
The weekly calendar runs from Sunday to Saturday for respiratory
virus notifications on CIDR (as per the Infectious Disease Regulations
1982 and subsequent amendments) and Monday to Sunday for the sentinel GP
and SARI surveillance systems (as per ISO week). Further information on
epidemiological dates and weeks can be found on the HPSC website.
Definitions
The case definitions for COVID-19, influenza and RSV are available
here. Only data on laboratory-confirmed cases, including cases diagnosed
using near patient molecular tests, are included in this report.
Sentinel GP ARI consultations are consultations to sentinel GP
practices for Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), with ARI defined as
Sudden onset of symptoms AND at least one of the following four
respiratory symptoms: Cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, coryza
AND a clinician’s judgement that the illness is due to an infection.
GP out of hours calls refer to calls to GP out of hours services from
persons with self-reported clinical symptoms of ‘flu’ or ‘cough’.
Emergency Department cases refer to cases treated in emergency
departments, with no indication on CIDR that they have subsequently been
admitted to hospital.
Hospitalised cases are inpatients with laboratory confirmed
SARS-CoV-2, influenza or RSV and includes inpatients with incidental
infections, where the infection is not the reason for their
admission.
Bed occupancy refers to the number of laboratory confirmed cases
admitted to acute inpatient sites at 08:00 hrs on the day of
reporting.
A SARI case is defined as a person hospitalised for at least 24 hours
with acute respiratory infection, with at least one of the following
symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath OR sudden onset of anosmia,
ageusia or dysgeusia with onset of symptoms within 14 days prior to
hospital admission. A SARI case refers to an individual patient episode
of care.
As of September 2024, ICU admissions for COVID-19, influenza and RSV
refer to those admitted to intensive care where COVID-19, influenza or
RSV were the primary or contributory cause of admission. Prior to
September 2024, ICU admissions for influenza and RSV included all
admissions where the patient tested positive for influenza or RSV,
irrespective of whether these pathogens were the cause of admission.
COVID-19, influenza and RSV deaths are defined as a death in a person
with laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza or RSV infection see case
definitions (this includes cases detected postmortem) and where
COVID-19, influenza or RSV is reported in any of the four cause of death
fields on the death certificate. Deaths where there is a clear
alternative cause of death (e.g. trauma, suicide) are not recorded as
COVID-19/influenza/RSV deaths. Deaths where there is a period of
complete recovery (as assessed by a clinician) between a COVID-19,
influenza or RSV episode of illness and death, are also not recorded as
deaths.
Test Positivity: Positive tests refer to all positive specimens and
includes duplicates and individuals who were re-tested.
Outbreaks are defined as two or more cases of acute respiratory
infection with the same pathogen (SARS-CoV-2, influenza or respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV)) confirmed by a laboratory test or near patient
test carried out by a health professional, and where there is reason to
consider that these cases may be epidemiologically linked in place and
time.
Other Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) outbreaks are defined as: Two
or more cases of acute respiratory infection arising within the same
48hr period epidemiologically linked in place: Outbreaks are classified
as Suspect ARI outbreaks, where testing has not been completed, is
pending or has been negative for Influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2.
Outbreaks are classified as confirmed if other respiratory pathogens
(ORVs), e.g. Rhinovirus, hMPV, Coronavirus OC43 etc are identified via
laboratory confirmation. The outbreak data presented in this report
includes both confirmed and suspect outbreaks.
Variant working definitions for ‘SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern’
(VOC), ‘SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest’ (VOI) and ‘SARS-CoV-2 variants
under monitoring’ (VUM) are available on the WHO
website and ECDC
website.
Data Sources
The Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting (CIDR) system: CIDR is
the source of statutory notification data on laboratory-confirmed
COVID-19, influenza, RSV (including data on notified, emergency
department, hospitalised and ICU cases and data on cases who died) and
data on outbreaks.
The type/subtype of laboratory confirmed influenza notifications are
reported on the CIDR system. The number of cases hospitalised and
admitted to ICU described in this report relate only to cases notified
during this reporting period, with known hospitalisation/ICU status at
the time of reporting.
Regional Departments of Public Health currently prioritise the
investigation and reporting of outbreaks in settings that benefit most
from public health and clinical intervention. The outbreak data reported
here focuses on these key settings/groups. These settings include acute
hospitals, nursing homes, community hospital/long-stay units,
residential institutions (centres for disabilities, centres for older
people, children’s/TUSLA residential centres and mental health
facilities) and other healthcare settings.
Population denominator data for analyses of CIDR data on notified,
emergency department, hospitalised and ICU cases and deaths are taken
from Census 2022.
Sentinel GP surveillance system: This includes 100 participating
general practices (located in all HSE Health Regions). These practices
report electronically on a weekly basis, the number of patients who
consulted with acute respiratory infection (ARI) and influenza-like
illness (ILI) (identified using International Classification of Primary
Care 2 codes R74 and R80). These practices provide overall and
age-stratified denominator data on the number of registered patients who
have sought care at the practice during the previous three years. The
combined patient population in these practices is estimated to be
approximately 10% of the national population. Sentinel GPs take a
combined nose and throat swab from the first five patients attending
their practice each week who meet the ARI case definition and send these
to the NVRL for testing.
GP Out-of-hours (GPOOHs) services: Five out of 14 GPOOHs services
provide weekly data on the total and age-stratified number of out of
hours calls for 1) all reasons, 2) for self-reported cough and 3) for
self-reported flu. The denominator for calculations of percentage of
calls is the total number of calls for all reasons.
The HSE Performance Management and Improvement Unit (PMIU) provides
daily data on bed occupancy (the number of currents inpatients with
laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV).
Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) surveillance system: SARI
cases are identified from new admissions through the Emergency
Department, based on clinical symptoms. Patients that develop SARI
during their admission, or who are admitted through alternate routes,
are not included.
National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL): The NVRL routinely test
sentinel GP and non-sentinel respiratory specimens for SARS-CoV-2,
influenza, RSV and a panel of other seasonal respiratory viruses (ORV).
The NVRL report on influenza type/subtype of sentinel GP ARI and
non-sentinel respiratory specimens on a weekly basis.
As of 14/10/2024 HPSC has ceased reporting on detections of hMPV from
virological surveillance of sentinel and non-sentinel specimens. This is
due to an increased risk of false positive results from the routine
respiratory panel.
National SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing Surveillance Programme
(NSWGSSP): The SARS-CoV-2 sequencing sampling framework currently
focuses on notified COVID-19 cases with severe disease (hospitalisation,
ICU admission) and deaths, COVID-19 outbreaks in health and care
settings, sentinel surveillance programmes in the community and acute
hospitals and targeted sequencing based on public health risk
assessment/clinical requests and virological changes e.g. new variant of
concern. There is typically a lag time of 1-3 weeks between a COVID-19
case being notified, selected for sequencing and SARS-CoV-2 sequencing
being completed. Therefore, the proportion of notified COVID-19 cases
notified in this time period from whom specimens are ultimately
sequenced will be higher than currently reported here. The HPSC link
sequencing results received from laboratories to epidemiological data on
COVID-19 cases reported on the CIDR system. This report summarises WGS
results and epidemiological data for COVID-19 cases that have been
sequenced in Ireland since week 40 2023 (specimen dates between
01/10/2023 and 16/01/2025). The SARS-CoV-2 sequencing results included
in this report reflect all data available as of 04/02/2025.
National SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance Programme: A detailed
description of the process involved for wastewater collection, sampling
and analyses is available in the routinely published national SARS-CoV-2
wastewater surveillance programme reports available here
Appendix
Appendix Table 1: Notified
laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV by age, sex
and HSE health region, from week 40 2024, to week 5 2025. Data source:
CIDR.
Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population) |
|---|
| All pathogens | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV |
|---|
Cases | 29,186 (566.8) | 3,652 (70.9) | 19,668 (382.0) | 5,866 (113.9) |
Age groups (years) |
|
|
|
|
<1 | 2,210 (3,823.8) | 172 (297.6) | 628 (1,086.6) | 1,410 (2,439.6) |
1-4 | 4,381 (1,843.7) | 100 (42.1) | 2,409 (1,013.8) | 1,872 (787.8) |
5-14 | 2,373 (331.0) | 55 (7.7) | 2,059 (287.2) | 259 (36.1) |
15-44 | 5,241 (253.5) | 514 (24.9) | 4,365 (211.2) | 362 (17.5) |
45-64 | 4,840 (374.2) | 630 (48.7) | 3,729 (288.3) | 481 (37.2) |
65-79 | 5,237 (879.7) | 992 (166.6) | 3,521 (591.5) | 724 (121.6) |
>80 | 4,900 (2,706.8) | 1,188 (656.3) | 2,954 (1,631.8) | 758 (418.7) |
Median age (IQR) | 46 (6-74) | 72 (48-83) | 46 (13-72) | 3 (1-65) |
Sex |
|
|
|
|
Male | 13,845 (544.1) | 1,730 (68.0) | 9,249 (363.5) | 2,866 (112.6) |
Female | 15,283 (586.8) | 1,921 (73.8) | 10,376 (398.4) | 2,986 (114.6) |
HSE Health Regions |
|
|
|
|
Dublin and North East | 6,989 (135.7) | 840 (70.8) | 4738 (399.1) | 1411 (118.9) |
Dublin and Midlands | 5,194 (100.9) | 637 (59.1) | 3439 (319.1) | 1118 (103.7) |
Dublin and South East | 6,509 (126.4) | 890 (91.6) | 4514 (464.8) | 1105 (113.8) |
South West | 3,770 (73.2) | 495 (66.8) | 2646 (357.3) | 629 (84.9) |
Mid West | 2,126 (41.3) | 332 (80.4) | 1512 (366) | 282 (68.3) |
West and North West | 4,594 (89.2) | 458 (60.3) | 2815 (370.6) | 1321 (173.9) |
Appendix Table 2:
Hospitalised laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV
by age, sex and HSE health region from week 40 2024 to week 5 2025. Data
source: CIDR.
Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population) |
|---|
| All pathogens | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV |
|---|
Cases | 8,141 (158.1) | 1,464 (28.4) | 4,721 (91.7) | 1,956 (38.0) |
Age groups (years) |
|
|
|
|
<1 | 785 (1,358.2) | 66 (114.2) | 197 (340.9) | 522 (903.2) |
1-4 | 1,365 (574.4) | 38 (16.0) | 656 (276.1) | 671 (282.4) |
5-14 | 656 (91.5) | 29 (4.0) | 523 (73.0) | 104 (14.5) |
15-44 | 760 (36.8) | 127 (6.1) | 550 (26.6) | 83 (4.0) |
45-64 | 1,103 (85.3) | 222 (17.2) | 760 (58.8) | 121 (9.4) |
65-79 | 1,697 (285.1) | 426 (71.6) | 1,043 (175.2) | 228 (38.3) |
>80 | 1,774 (980.0) | 556 (307.1) | 991 (547.4) | 227 (125.4) |
Median age (IQR) | 56 (4-78) | 75 (58-84) | 58 (8-78) | 2 (0-61) |
Sex |
|
|
|
|
Male | 4,040 (158.8) | 750 (29.5) | 2,310 (90.8) | 980 (38.5) |
Female | 4,096 (157.3) | 714 (27.4) | 2,407 (92.4) | 975 (37.4) |
HSE Health Regions |
|
|
|
|
Dublin and North East | 1,009 (19.6) | 198 (16.7) | 566 (47.7) | 245 (20.6) |
Dublin and Midlands | 1,297 (25.2) | 279 (25.9) | 637 (59.1) | 381 (35.4) |
Dublin and South East | 1,781 (34.6) | 287 (29.6) | 1036 (106.7) | 458 (47.2) |
South West | 1,217 (23.6) | 243 (32.8) | 767 (103.6) | 207 (27.9) |
Mid West | 1,044 (20.3) | 184 (44.5) | 689 (166.8) | 171 (41.4) |
West and North West | 1,793 (34.8) | 273 (35.9) | 1026 (135.1) | 494 (65) |
Appendix Table 3: Number
and percentage positive Sentinel GP ARI specimens by respiratory virus
for week 4 2025, week 5 2025 and the 2024/2025 season. Data source:
NVRL.
| Week 4 2025 (N = 155) | Week 5 2025 (N = 88) | 2024/2025 (N = 2809) |
|---|
Virus | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive |
|---|
SARS-CoV-2 | 2 | 1.3 | 1 | 1.1 | 78 | 2.8 |
Influenza Virus | 65 | 41.9 | 32 | 36.4 | 836 | 29.8 |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) | 8 | 5.2 | 3 | 3.4 | 141 | 5.0 |
Rhino/enterovirus | 10 | 6.5 | 6 | 6.8 | 434 | 15.5 |
Adenovirus | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 1.1 | 14 | 0.5 |
Bocavirus | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 9 | 0.3 |
Parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 36 | 1.3 |
Parainfluenza virus type 2 (PIV-2) | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 1.1 | 37 | 1.3 |
Parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) | 1 | 0.6 | 0 | 0.0 | 11 | 0.4 |
Parainfluenza virus type 4 (PIV-4) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 27 | 1.0 |
Appendix Table 4: Number
and percentage positive NVRL non-sentinel respiratory specimens by
respiratory virus, week 4 2025, week 5 2025 and the 2024/2025 season.
Data source: NVRL.
| Week 4 2025 (N = 309) | Week 5 2025 (N = 183) | 2024/2025 (N = 6325) |
|---|
Virus | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive |
|---|
SARS-CoV-2 | 3 | 1.0 | 1 | 0.5 | 146 | 2.3 |
Influenza Virus | 45 | 14.6 | 24 | 13.1 | 1,795 | 28.4 |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) | 29 | 9.4 | 24 | 13.1 | 524 | 8.3 |
Rhino/enterovirus | 23 | 7.4 | 11 | 6.0 | 621 | 9.8 |
Adenovirus | 2 | 0.6 | 2 | 1.1 | 40 | 0.6 |
Bocavirus | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 37 | 0.6 |
Parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 51 | 0.8 |
Parainfluenza virus type 2 (PIV-2) | 4 | 1.3 | 1 | 0.5 | 46 | 0.7 |
Parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.5 | 10 | 0.2 |
Parainfluenza virus type 4 (PIV-4) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 45 | 0.7 |
Appendix Table 5:
Influenza type and sub-type distribution among sentinel GP ARI and
non-sentinel respiratory influenza positive specimens for week 4 2025,
week 5 2025 and the 2024/2025 season. Data source: NVRL.
| | | Influenza A | Influenza B |
|---|
Time period | Specimen source | Total influenza positive | Total | A(H1)pdm09 | A(H3) | A(not subtyped) | Total | B Victoria | B (upspecified) |
|---|
Week 4 2025 | Sentinel GP ARI | 65 | 37 | 26 | 8 | 3 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 45 | 38 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Total | 110 | 75 | 50 | 19 | 6 | 35 | 0 | 35 |
Week 5 2025 | Sentinel GP ARI | 32 | 19 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 24 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Total | 56 | 37 | 28 | 9 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
Season to date | Sentinel GP ARI | 836 | 666 | 524 | 75 | 67 | 170 | 0 | 170 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 1,795 | 1,652 | 1,377 | 144 | 131 | 143 | 20 | 123 |
Total | 2,631 | 2,318 | 1,901 | 219 | 198 | 313 | 20 | 293 |
Appendix Table 6: RSV type
distribution among sentinel GP ARI and non-sentinel respiratory RSV
positive specimens for week 4 2025, week 5 2025 and the 2024/2025
season. Data source: NVRL.
Time period | Specimen source | Total RSV positive | RSV A | RSV B | RSV (unspecified) |
|---|
Week 4 2025 | Sentinel GP ARI | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 29 | 9 | 20 | 0 |
Total | 37 | 14 | 23 | 0 |
Week 5 2025 | Sentinel GP ARI | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 24 | 8 | 16 | 0 |
Total | 27 | 8 | 19 | 0 |
Season to date | Sentinel GP ARI | 141 | 66 | 75 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 524 | 241 | 282 | 1 |
Total | 665 | 307 | 357 | 1 |
