Integrated Respiratory Virus Bulletin, Ireland

Week 8 2025 (16/02/2025 - 23/02/2025)

Report prepared on 27/02/2025



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

For interactive graphs – data values and labels can be seen by hovering over graph lines or bars. Specific categories can be selected or deselected by clicking on the relevant category in the legend. Readers can skip to specific sections by clicking on the table of contents to the left of the screen.

1 Key messages

During week 8 2025, influenza activity in Ireland was at moderate levels however notifications increased slightly. Sentinel GP influenza positivity continued to decrease in week 8, but remaining above the 10% positivity threshold at 20.6%. Influenza A(H1)pdm09 and influenza B viruses are co-circulating with influenza A(H3) detections reported at lower levels. In week 8, RSV notifications decreased for the fifth consecutive week, while COVID-19 activity remained at low levels. Rhino or Enterovirus positivity was stable and above the 10% positivity threshold at 12.1% in week 8.

1.1 Summary for week 8 2025

Primary Care Surveillance

The sentinel GP Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) consultation rate decreased to 96.4/100,000 population during week 8 2025, compared to 101.3/100,000 in week 7. The highest rates were in those aged <5 years at 256.4/100,000 population. Sentinel GP influenza positivity decreased to 20.6% however remained above the 10% positivity threshold levels. Rhino or Enterovirus positivity was stable and above the 10% positivity threshold at 12.1% in week 8. Sentinel GP RSV and all other seasonal respiratory pathogens positivity levels were below the baseline. The proportion of GP-OOH calls for self-reported cough decreased during week 8 however remained above threshold levels for all age groups, except for those aged over 65 years. The proportion of self-reported flu calls decreased during week 8 and was below the baseline for all ages except for those aged 15-64 years.

COVID-19

COVID-19 activity remained at low levels across all indicators in week 8 2025. COVID-19 cases increased by 31.7%, from 101 cases notified in week 7 to 133 cases in week 8. Hospitalised cases increased by 27.0% from 37 cases in week 7 to 47 cases in week 8. ICU admissions and deaths remained low. XEC was the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant and accounted for 70.5% of samples sequenced between weeks 1 and 5 2025. SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in wastewater remained stable or decreased amongst most catchment areas, data available up to week 8 2025.

Influenza

Influenza activity was at moderate levels in week 8 2025, although there was a slight increase in the number of notifications. There were 948 influenza cases notified in week 8, compared to 806 reported in week 7. The overall notification rate was 18.4/100,000 population and was highest in those aged 80 years and older at 61.3/100,000 population, followed by those aged 1-4 years at 42.9/100,0000. There were 193 hospitalisations, one ICU admission and no deaths notified during week 8. Influenza hospitalisation rates were highest in those aged 80 years and older at 21.0/100,000 population. For the season to date (weeks 40 2024 to week 8 2025), 216 ICU admissions and 254 deaths have been notified. Influenza hospital bed occupancy remained stable during week 8. Influenza A(H1)pdm09 and influenza B viruses were co-circulating, with influenza A(H3) detections reported at lower levels. Influenza B cases accounted for 47% of all notifications in week 8 2025.

RSV

The number of notified RSV cases and hospitalisations continued to decrease in week 8 2025, with 255 cases notified compared to 266 in week 7 2025. The overall notification rate decreased to 5.0/100,000 population. In week 8 2025, the notification rate was highest in those aged less than one year at 64.0/100,000 population, followed by those aged 80 years and older at 35.4/100,000 population. There were 71 hospitalisations, and no ICU admissions or deaths reported in week 8 2025. For the season to date (week 40 2024 to week 8 2025), 81 ICU admissions and 23 deaths have been reported.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI)

Based on data from two sentinel hospital sites (UHL & SJH), in week 8 2025 54 SARI cases were reported. SARS-CoV-2 positivity remained at low levels, with one positive case (1.9%) reported in week 8. Influenza positivity remained stable at 23.9% in week 7 compared to 22.6% in week 8; RSV also remained stable at 8.7% in week 7 compared to 9.4% in week 8 2025. Among the influenza positive SARI cases in week 8, 58% (n=7) were influenza B.

Outbreaks

The overall number of respiratory virus outbreaks notified have increased during week 8, mainly due to late notifications. One COVID-19 outbreak was reported in a nursing home during week 8, a decrease from five outbreaks reported in week 7. Twenty-five influenza outbreaks (19 in hospitals, four in nursing homes and two in a residential institutions) were reported in week 8. Ten RSV outbreaks (five in nursing homes, four in hospitals and one in a residential institution) and one other ARI outbreak in a nursing home were also notified during week 8 2025. Sixteen of the influenza outbreaks and two of the RSV outbreaks notified in week 8 2025 were late notifications.


2 Activity

2.1 Confirmed Cases


1: Number of notified cases of laboratory confirmed of COVID-19, influenza and RSV by notification week in Ireland between week 40 2023 and week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR


2.2 COVID-19 seasonal trends

2: Number of notified cases of laboratory confirmed of COVID-19 by notification week in Ireland between week 40 2019 and week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR

Please note: where there is a 53 week year, the average of week 52 and week 53 is taken.


2.3 Influenza seasonal trends

3: Number of notified cases of laboratory confirmed of influenza by notification week in Ireland between week 40 2019 and week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR

Please note: where there is a 53 week year, the average of week 52 and week 53 is taken.


2.4 RSV seasonal trends

4: Number of notified cases of laboratory confirmed RSV by notification week in Ireland between week 40 2019 and week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR

Please note: where there is a 53 week year, the average of week 52 and week 53 is taken.


Table 1: Number and incidence of notified laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV, by age, sex and HSE health region, Ireland, week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR.

Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population)

All pathogens

COVID-19

Influenza

RSV

Cases

1,336 (25.9)

133 (2.6)

948 (18.4)

255 (5.0)

Age groups (years)

<1

64 (110.7)

6 (10.4)

21 (36.3)

37 (64.0)

1-4

151 (63.5)

4 (1.7)

102 (42.9)

45 (18.9)

5-14

188 (26.2)

3 (0.4)

178 (24.8)

7 (1.0)

15-44

354 (17.1)

17 (0.8)

315 (15.2)

22 (1.1)

45-64

165 (12.8)

20 (1.5)

111 (8.6)

34 (2.6)

65-79

185 (31.1)

29 (4.9)

110 (18.5)

46 (7.7)

>80

229 (126.5)

54 (29.8)

111 (61.3)

64 (35.4)

Median age (IQR)

37 (9-72)

76 (51-83)

32 (9-60)

57 (2-80)

Sex

Male

649 (25.5)

65 (2.6)

457 (18.0)

127 (5.0)

Female

684 (26.3)

68 (2.6)

488 (18.7)

128 (4.9)

HSE Health Regions

Dublin and North East

364 (7.1)

42 (3.5)

276 (23.3)

46 (3.9)

Dublin and Midlands

225 (4.4)

19 (1.8)

162 (15)

44 (4.1)

Dublin and South East

283 (5.5)

46 (4.7)

194 (20)

43 (4.4)

South West

168 (3.3)

12 (1.6)

123 (16.6)

33 (4.5)

Mid West

66 (1.3)

7 (1.7)

42 (10.2)

17 (4.1)

West and North West

230 (4.5)

7 (0.9)

151 (19.9)

72 (9.5)


An overview of the characteristics of all cases reported since the start of the season is presented in Appendix A1.


5: Incidence of notified cases of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV by HSE Health Region for the last 12 weeks, from week 49 2024 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR


6: Age and sex-specific incidence of notified cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV from week 40 2024 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR

Please note that the scale on the x-axis may differ by pathogen, to account for differences in the number of cases notified for each pathogen.


7: Incidence of notified cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV by age group from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR


2.5 Sentinel GP Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) Surveillance

2.5.1 Sentinel GP ARI

8: Sentinel GP ARI consultation rate per 100,000 population overall (with associated number of influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 positive sentinel GP ARI specimens) from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: Sentinel GP surveillance system and NVRL.

2.5.2 Sentinel GP ARI by Age Group

9: Sentinel GP ARI consultation incidence by age-group, from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025 2024. Data source: Sentinel GP surveillance system.


2.6 GP Out-of-Hours Surveillance


10: Percentage of calls to GP Out-of-Hours services for self-reported cough and self-reported flu, for all ages and by age-group, by week of call from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: Participating GP Out-of-Hours services in Ireland.


3 Severity and Impact

3.1 Emergency Department Cases

3.1.1 Incidence of Emergency Department Cases

11: Incidence of emergency department cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR


3.1.2 Number of Emergency Department Cases


12: Number of emergency department cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV, from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR


3.2 Hospital Admissions

3.2.1 Incidence of Hospitalised Cases


13: Incidence of hospitalised cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR


3.2.2 Number of Hospitalised Cases


14: Number of hospitalised cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR

Table 2: Number and incidence of hospitalised cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV by age, sex and HSE health region, Ireland, week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR

Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population)

All pathogens

COVID-19

Influenza

RSV

Cases

311 (6.0)

47 (0.9)

193 (3.7)

71 (1.4)

Age groups (years)

<1

13 (22.5)

0 (0.0)

6 (10.4)

7 (12.1)

1-4

45 (18.9)

1 (0.4)

29 (12.2)

15 (6.3)

5-14

43 (6.0)

0 (0.0)

42 (5.9)

1 (0.1)

15-44

42 (2.0)

2 (0.1)

35 (1.7)

5 (0.2)

45-64

28 (2.2)

7 (0.5)

12 (0.9)

9 (0.7)

65-79

56 (9.4)

9 (1.5)

31 (5.2)

16 (2.7)

>80

84 (46.4)

28 (15.5)

38 (21.0)

18 (9.9)

Median age (IQR)

55 (7-80)

81 (71-85)

35 (6-74)

63 (2-79.5)

Sex

Male

162 (6.4)

24 (0.9)

102 (4.0)

36 (1.4)

Female

149 (5.7)

23 (0.9)

91 (3.5)

35 (1.3)

HSE Health Regions

Dublin and North East

37 (0.7)

5 (0.4)

23 (1.9)

9 (0.8)

Dublin and Midlands

39 (0.8)

7 (0.6)

25 (2.3)

7 (0.6)

Dublin and South East

82 (1.6)

24 (2.5)

47 (4.8)

11 (1.1)

South West

35 (0.7)

4 (0.5)

24 (3.2)

7 (0.9)

Mid West

33 (0.6)

4 (1)

19 (4.6)

10 (2.4)

West and North West

85 (1.7)

3 (0.4)

55 (7.2)

27 (3.6)


An overview of the characteristics of all hospitalised cases reported since the start of the season is presented in Appendix A2.


15: Age and sex-specific incidence of hospitalised cases of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV from week 40 2024 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR

Please note that the scale on the x-axis may differ by pathogen, to account for differences in the number of cases notified for each pathogen.


16: Incidence of hospitalised cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV by age group from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR


Figure 17: Cumulative incidence of hospitalised cases of laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV by HSE health region, according to patient county of residence in week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR


3.2.3 Bed Occupancy in Acute Inpatient Settings


18: Number of hospital beds occupied by patients with laboratory confirmed COVID-19, influenza or RSV. Data source: HSE Planning and Performance Unit


3.3 ICU Admissions


19: Number of ICU admissions due to laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, influenza and RSV, week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR


Table 3: Number and incidence of ICU admissions due to COVID-19, influenza and RSV, week 8 2025, and season to date (from week 40 2024). Data source: CIDR.

Week 8, 2025

Season to date

Number of ICU admissionsa

ICU admissions per 1,000 hospitalisations

% of hospitalised cases admitted to ICU

Number of ICU admissions

ICU admissions per 1,000 hospitalisations

% of hospitalised cases admitted to ICU

COVID-19

0

0.0

0.0

37

23.2

2.3

Influenza

1

5.2

0.5

216

40.1

4.0

RSV

0

0.0

0.0

81

36.6

3.7

aICU admissions include all cases admitted to ICU due to COVID-19, influenza and RSV.


3.4 Sentinel Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) Surveillance


20: Number and incidence of SARI hospitalised cases (emergency admissions) by week of hospital admission, from week 40 2024 to week 8 2025. Data source: Sentinel SARI surveillance system.


21: Percentage of SARI cases with a positive laboratory test result for SARS-CoV-2, influenza or RSV by week, from week 40 2024 to week 8 2025. Data source: Sentinel SARI surveillance system.


3.5 Mortality

3.5.1 Deaths Among Confirmed Cases


22: Number of COVID-19, influenza and RSV deaths by week of death. Data source: CIDR


Table 4: Number and incidence of COVID-19, influenza and RSV deaths for the season to date. Data source: CIDR

COVID-19

Influenza

RSV

Age (years)

Number

Incidence per 100,000 population

Number

Incidence per 100,000 population

Number

Incidence per 100,000 population

<65

7

0.2

33

0.8

0

0.0

>65

83

10.7

221

28.5

23

3.0

Total

90

1.7

254

4.9

23

0.4


4 Outbreaks


23: Number of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other ARI outbreaks reported in health and care settings from week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR.


Table 5 : COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other ARI outbreaks reported by setting week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR

Epi week: 8 2025

Outbreak location

COVID-19

Influenza

RSV

ARI

Total week 8, 2025

Total season to date

Comm. Hosp/Long-stay unit

0

0

0

0

0

48

Hospital

0

19

4

0

23

281

Nursing home

1

4

5

1

11

314

Other healthcare service

0

0

0

0

0

13

Residential institution

0

2

1

0

3

95

Total Health Care Settings

1

25

10

1

37

751

Total Non Health Care Settings

0

0

0

0

0

8

Total

1

25

10

1

37

760


24: Number of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other ARI outbreaks by HSE health region, week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR.


5 Virology and Genomic Surveillance

5.1 Virus Positivity and Dominant Virus Types/subtypes in Circulation


Table 6: Number and percentage positive SARS-CoV-2, influenza and RSV specimens by surveillance source, week 8 2025. Data source: CIDR, National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL).

SARS-CoV-2

Influenza

RSV

Surveillance system

Total tested

Total positive

% positive

Total positive

% positive

Total positive

% positive

NVRL Sentinel GP ARI

107

1

0.9

22

20.6

5

4.7

NVRL nonsentinel respiratory viruses

176

4

2.3

16

9.1

16

9.1


25: Percentage for sentinel GP ARI specimens and non-sentinel respiratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, RSV and other respiratory viruses, by week of specimen collection, week 20 2024 to week 8 2025. PIV = parainfluenza viruses. Data source: NVRL


26: Number of sentinel GP ARI and non-sentinel respiratory influenza positive specimens, and laboratory confirmed influenza notifications by influenza type/sub-type, by week of specimen collection, week 40 2023 to week 8 2025. Data source: NVRL, CIDR


Underlying data on the total number of tests, total number of positives and percentage positive by week and for the season to date for each virus for both sentinel and non-sentinel specimens are presented in Appendix A3, Appendix A4, Appendix A5, Appendix A6


5.2 SARS-CoV-2 Genetic and Antigenic Data Including Whole Genome Sequencing


27: SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing results, specimen collection dates from week 40 2023 to week 5 2025


There is typically a lag time of 1-3 weeks between a case being notified, selected for sequencing and sequencing being completed. Therefore the percentage of cases notified in this time period who are ultimately sequenced will be higher than reported here.


28: SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing results by week specimen collected from week 1 2025 to week 5 2025


6 SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance


29: Approximate location of wastewater catchment areas and SARS-CoV-2 viral loads (gc/day) in wastewater and percentage change compared to previous week, National Wastewater Surveillance Programme, week 8 2025.


Figure 30: Weekly distribution of population-normalised SARS-CoV-2 viral load (gc/day/person), National Wastewater Surveillance Programme, May 2021 to week 8 2025.


9 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 31/01/2025). The SARS-CoV-2 sequencing results included in this report reflect all data available as of 24/02/2025.

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


10 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 8 2025. Data source: CIDR.

Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population)

All pathogens

COVID-19

Influenza

RSV

Cases

33,147 (643.7)

3,978 (77.3)

22,490 (436.8)

6,679 (129.7)

Age groups (years)

<1

2,436 (4,214.8)

189 (327.0)

712 (1,231.9)

1,535 (2,655.9)

1-4

4,931 (2,075.2)

109 (45.9)

2,792 (1,175.0)

2,030 (854.3)

5-14

2,885 (402.4)

66 (9.2)

2,533 (353.3)

286 (39.9)

15-44

6,240 (301.9)

554 (26.8)

5,254 (254.2)

432 (20.9)

45-64

5,348 (413.5)

675 (52.2)

4,097 (316.8)

576 (44.5)

65-79

5,793 (973.1)

1,076 (180.8)

3,855 (647.6)

862 (144.8)

>80

5,508 (3,042.6)

1,308 (722.5)

3,242 (1,790.9)

958 (529.2)

Median age (IQR)

45 (6-73)

72 (48-83)

44 (12-71)

3 (1-68)

Sex

Male

15,671 (615.9)

1,883 (74.0)

10,541 (414.3)

3,247 (127.6)

Female

17,415 (668.6)

2,094 (80.4)

11,904 (457.0)

3,417 (131.2)

HSE Health Regions

Dublin and North East

7,994 (155.2)

914 (77)

5519 (464.9)

1561 (131.5)

Dublin and Midlands

5,948 (115.5)

703 (65.2)

3947 (366.3)

1298 (120.4)

Dublin and South East

7,358 (142.9)

990 (101.9)

5104 (525.6)

1264 (130.2)

South West

4,276 (83)

524 (70.8)

3010 (406.4)

742 (100.2)

Mid West

2,383 (46.3)

363 (87.9)

1675 (405.5)

345 (83.5)

West and North West

5,184 (100.7)

484 (63.7)

3231 (425.3)

1469 (193.4)


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 8 2025. Data source: CIDR.

Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population)

All pathogens

COVID-19

Influenza

RSV

Cases

9,193 (178.5)

1,592 (30.9)

5,386 (104.6)

2,215 (43.0)

Age groups (years)

<1

844 (1,460.3)

70 (121.1)

219 (378.9)

555 (960.3)

1-4

1,526 (642.2)

41 (17.3)

761 (320.3)

724 (304.7)

5-14

792 (110.5)

34 (4.7)

646 (90.1)

112 (15.6)

15-44

908 (43.9)

135 (6.5)

665 (32.2)

108 (5.2)

45-64

1,212 (93.7)

238 (18.4)

830 (64.2)

144 (11.1)

65-79

1,909 (320.7)

463 (77.8)

1,166 (195.9)

280 (47.0)

>80

2,000 (1,104.8)

611 (337.5)

1,097 (606.0)

292 (161.3)

Median age (IQR)

56 (4-78)

75 (58-84)

56 (8-77)

3 (0-66)

Sex

Male

4,561 (179.2)

818 (32.1)

2,640 (103.8)

1,103 (43.3)

Female

4,629 (177.7)

774 (29.7)

2,744 (105.4)

1,111 (42.7)

HSE Health Regions

Dublin and North East

1,118 (21.7)

208 (17.5)

633 (53.3)

277 (23.3)

Dublin and Midlands

1,442 (28)

297 (27.6)

723 (67.1)

422 (39.2)

Dublin and South East

2,030 (39.4)

337 (34.7)

1186 (122.1)

507 (52.2)

South West

1,358 (26.4)

263 (35.5)

859 (116)

236 (31.9)

Mid West

1,192 (23.1)

203 (49.1)

781 (189.1)

208 (50.4)

West and North West

2,053 (39.9)

284 (37.4)

1204 (158.5)

565 (74.4)


Appendix Table 3: Number and percentage positive Sentinel GP ARI specimens by respiratory virus for week 7 2025, week 8 2025 and the 2024/2025 season. Data source: NVRL.

Week 7 2025 (N = 172)

Week 8 2025 (N = 107)

2024/2025 (N = 3241)

Virus

Total positive

% positive

Total positive

% positive

Total positive

% positive

SARS-CoV-2

1

0.6

1

0.9

81

2.5

Influenza Virus

47

27.3

22

20.6

964

29.7

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

5

2.9

5

4.7

159

4.9

Rhino/enterovirus

21

12.2

13

12.1

485

15.0

Adenovirus

2

1.2

1

0.9

18

0.6

Bocavirus

1

0.6

0

0.0

11

0.3

Parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1)

0

0.0

0

0.0

36

1.1

Parainfluenza virus type 2 (PIV-2)

0

0.0

0

0.0

37

1.1

Parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3)

0

0.0

1

0.9

12

0.4

Parainfluenza virus type 4 (PIV-4)

0

0.0

0

0.0

27

0.8


Appendix Table 4: Number and percentage positive NVRL non-sentinel respiratory specimens by respiratory virus, week 7 2025, week 8 2025 and the 2024/2025 season. Data source: NVRL.

Week 7 2025 (N = 300)

Week 8 2025 (N = 176)

2024/2025 (N = 7655)

Virus

Total positive

% positive

Total positive

% positive

Total positive

% positive

SARS-CoV-2

6

2.0

4

2.3

160

2.1

Influenza Virus

51

17.0

16

9.1

2,290

29.9

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

28

9.3

16

9.1

693

9.1

Rhino/enterovirus

34

11.3

15

8.5

706

9.2

Adenovirus

2

0.7

1

0.6

50

0.7

Bocavirus

2

0.7

1

0.6

41

0.5

Parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1)

0

0.0

0

0.0

55

0.7

Parainfluenza virus type 2 (PIV-2)

0

0.0

0

0.0

46

0.6

Parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3)

1

0.3

2

1.1

15

0.2

Parainfluenza virus type 4 (PIV-4)

3

1.0

0

0.0

48

0.6


Appendix Table 5: Influenza type and sub-type distribution among sentinel GP ARI and non-sentinel respiratory influenza positive specimens for week 7 2025, week 8 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 7 2025

Sentinel GP ARI

47

25

6

19

0

22

0

22

Non-sentinel respiratory

51

31

16

13

2

20

0

20

Total

98

56

22

32

2

42

0

42

Week 8 2025

Sentinel GP ARI

22

4

2

2

0

18

0

18

Non-sentinel respiratory

16

11

2

8

1

5

0

5

Total

38

15

4

10

1

23

0

23

Season to date

Sentinel GP ARI

964

727

555

103

69

237

0

237

Non-sentinel respiratory

2,290

2,065

1,707

213

145

225

54

171

Total

3,254

2,792

2,262

316

214

462

54

408


Appendix Table 6: RSV type distribution among sentinel GP ARI and non-sentinel respiratory RSV positive specimens for week 7 2025, week 8 2025 and the 2024/2025 season. Data source: NVRL.

Time period

Specimen source

Total RSV positive

RSV A

RSV B

RSV (unspecified)

Week 7 2025

Sentinel GP ARI

5

0

5

0

Non-sentinel respiratory

28

14

14

0

Total

33

14

19

0

Week 8 2025

Sentinel GP ARI

5

1

4

0

Non-sentinel respiratory

16

4

12

0

Total

21

5

16

0

Season to date

Sentinel GP ARI

159

70

89

0

Non-sentinel respiratory

693

318

374

1

Total

852

388

463

1