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).
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Key messages
COVID-19 activity remained at moderate levels. Influenza and RSV
activity remained at low levels. Rhino/enteroviruses are circulating at
high levels in the community
Vaccination/immunisation continues to be one of the most effective
tools to reduce severe illness from influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 -
especially for vulnerable groups. As we move into the 2025/2026 winter
respiratory virus season, robust surveillance, immunisation programmes,
and resilient healthcare system preparedness (including Infection
Prevention Control) will be critical to safeguarding public health.
Summary for week 40
2025
Syndromic Surveillance
The sentinel GP Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) consultation rate
was stable at 62.4/100,000 population during week 40 2025, compared to
68.4/100,000 in week 39. The highest rates were in those aged <5
years at 243.2/100,000 population. Â Sentinel GP influenza, SARS-CoV-2
and RSV test positivity levels were below the 10% threshold.
Rhino/enterovirus test positivity has been high in recent weeks and was
at 45.6% in week 40. All other seasonal respiratory pathogens’ test
positivity levels were below the 10% test positivity threshold in week
40. The percentage of GP-OOH calls for self-reported cough was above the
overall baseline for all ages during week 40. The percentage of
self-reported influenza calls was below the overall baseline for all
ages during week 40.
COVID-19
COVID-19 activity remained at moderate levels across all indicators
in week 40 2025. The overall incidence was 8.3/100,000 population.
COVID-19 cases decreased by 18.5%, from 524 cases notified in week 39 to
427 cases in week 40. Hospitalisations increased slightly by 2.1%, from
192 cases in week 39 to 196 cases in week 40. There were no ICU
admissions in week 40. However, 2 deaths were notified. XFG remained the
predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant. XFG accounted for 85.6% of sequences
between weeks 34 and 38 2025, while NB.1.8.1 accounted for 9.0% of
samples sequenced during the same time period. SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in
wastewater remained stable in the majority of catchment areas, with
increases noted in two of 29 catchment areas.
Influenza
Influenza activity was below baseline levels in week 40 2025, 41
influenza cases were notified, compared to 25 reported in week 39. The
overall incidence was 0.8/100,000 population. There were six influenza
hospitalisations and no influenza ICU admissions or deaths notified
during week 40 2025. Influenza hospital bed occupancy remained stable in
recent weeks. Influenza B, influenza A(H1)pdm09 and influenza A(H3)
detections were all reported at low levels in recent weeks.
RSV
RSV activity was at low levels in week 40 2025, 18 cases were
notified compared to 9 in week 39 2025. The overall incidence was
0.3/100,000 population. There were 9 RSV hospitalisations and no ICU
admissions or deaths reported in week 40 2025. RSV hospital bed
occupancy remained stable in recent weeks.
Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI)
Based on data from all three sentinel hospital sites, SARI activity
remains low; 57 SARI cases were admitted in week 40, a 12.3% decrease on
the 65 cases admitted in week 39 2025. SARS CoV-2 test positivity
remained stable and at low levels 9.5% (week 39) and 9.3% (week 40). RSV
test positivity decreased from 1.6% (week 39) to 0% (week 40) and no
cases tested positive for influenza in weeks 39 and 40 2025.
Outbreaks
The overall number of respiratory virus outbreaks increased during
week 40 2025. There were 44 COVID-19 outbreaks reported during week 40
(one in a community/long-stay unit, 17 in hospitals, 21 in nursing
homes, one in another healthcare setting and four in residential
institutions). There was also, one influenza outbreak in a hospital, one
RSV outbreak in a community/long-stay unit and four ARI outbreaks (two
in a community/long stay unit, one in another healthcare service and one
in residential institution).
Excess Mortality
The latest HPSC excess mortality analysis of all registered deaths in
Ireland up to October 5th, 2025 using the standardised European EuroMOMO
algorithm shows that there has been no excess mortality reported for the
entire Irish population (all ages) during the 2025 summer period (week
21 2025 onwards) and most recently in week 39 2025.
Note: These data are provisional due to the time delay with death
registration in Ireland. A country-specific adjustment function was
applied to correct for the typical delay in registrations of deaths in
Ireland. Nonetheless, estimates of excess mortality for the most recent
weeks are reported with some uncertainty and should be interpreted with
caution.
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 and onset of symptoms within 14 days
prior to hospital admission, with at least one of the following
symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath OR sudden onset of anosmia,
ageusia or dysgeusia.
From week 40 2025, the case definition was updated for cases aged
<6 months to include increased work of breathing and apnoea as
relevant symptoms. 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)
Moving Epidemic Method (MEM) thresholds have been established to
assess the intensity of respiratory virus activity. Thresholds have been
calculated using five years of historical notification data from
2017/2018 to 2024/2025. The seasons 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 were
excluded, due to low influenza and RSV in circulation during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Further
details
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.
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 2024 (specimen dates between
29/09/2024 and 20/09/2025). The SARS-CoV-2 sequencing results included
in this report reflect all data available as of 06/10/2025.
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 2025, to week 40 2025. Data source:
CIDR
Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population) |
|---|
| All pathogens | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV |
|---|
Cases | 486 (9.4) | 427 (8.3) | 41 (0.8) | 18 (0.3) |
Age groups (years) |
|
|
|
|
<1 | 30 (51.9) | 21 (36.3) | 1 (1.7) | 8 (13.8) |
1-4 | 15 (6.3) | 7 (2.9) | 2 (0.8) | 6 (2.5) |
5-14 | 14 (2.0) | 9 (1.3) | 5 (0.7) | 0 (0.0) |
15-44 | 73 (3.5) | 60 (2.9) | 13 (0.6) | 0 (0.0) |
45-64 | 91 (7.0) | 80 (6.2) | 10 (0.8) | 1 (0.1) |
65-79 | 128 (21.5) | 120 (20.2) | 8 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) |
>80 | 135 (74.6) | 130 (71.8) | 2 (1.1) | 3 (1.7) |
Median age (IQR) | 68 (41-81) | 70 (48-82) | 40 (16-60) | 1 (0-3) |
Sex |
|
|
|
|
Male | 245 (9.6) | 215 (8.4) | 20 (0.8) | 10 (0.4) |
Female | 237 (9.1) | 210 (8.1) | 20 (0.8) | 7 (0.3) |
HSE Health Regions |
|
|
|
|
Dublin and North East | 119 (2.3) | 110 (9.3) | 9 (0.8) | 0 (0) |
Dublin and Midlands | 86 (1.7) | 77 (7.1) | 5 (0.5) | 4 (0.4) |
Dublin and South East | 94 (1.8) | 79 (8.1) | 11 (1.1) | 4 (0.4) |
South West | 84 (1.6) | 71 (9.6) | 12 (1.6) | 1 (0.1) |
Mid West | 47 (0.9) | 47 (11.4) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
West and North West | 55 (1.1) | 42 (5.5) | 4 (0.5) | 9 (1.2) |
Appendix Table 2:
Hospitalised laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19, influenza and RSV
by age, sex and HSE Health Region from week 40 2025 to week 40 2025.
Data source: CIDR
Number of cases (incidence per 100,000 population) |
|---|
| All pathogens | COVID-19 | Influenza | RSV |
|---|
Cases | 211 (4.1) | 196 (3.8) | 6 (0.1) | 9 (0.2) |
Age groups (years) |
|
|
|
|
<1 | 12 (20.8) | 7 (12.1) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (8.7) |
1-4 | 8 (3.4) | 4 (1.7) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (1.7) |
5-14 | 4 (0.6) | 4 (0.6) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
15-44 | 16 (0.8) | 16 (0.8) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
45-64 | 36 (2.8) | 33 (2.6) | 3 (0.2) | 0 (0.0) |
65-79 | 63 (10.6) | 61 (10.2) | 2 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) |
>80 | 72 (39.8) | 71 (39.2) | 1 (0.6) | 0 (0.0) |
Median age (IQR) | 74 (54-83) | 75 (57-83) | 64 (55-74) | 0 (0-1) |
Sex |
|
|
|
|
Male | 114 (4.5) | 107 (4.2) | 3 (0.1) | 4 (0.2) |
Female | 95 (3.6) | 89 (3.4) | 2 (0.1) | 4 (0.2) |
HSE Health Regions |
|
|
|
|
Dublin and North East | 28 (0.5) | 27 (2.3) | 1 (0.1) | 0 (0) |
Dublin and Midlands | 54 (1) | 49 (4.5) | 1 (0.1) | 4 (0.4) |
Dublin and South East | 33 (0.6) | 28 (2.9) | 2 (0.2) | 3 (0.3) |
South West | 40 (0.8) | 39 (5.3) | 1 (0.1) | 0 (0) |
Mid West | 26 (0.5) | 26 (6.3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
West and North West | 29 (0.6) | 26 (3.4) | 1 (0.1) | 2 (0.3) |
Appendix Table 3: Number
and percentage positive Sentinel GP ARI specimens by respiratory virus
for week 39 2025, week 40 2025 and the 2025/2026 season. Data source:
NVRL
| Week 39 2025 (N = 81) | Week 40 2025 (N = 79) | 2025/2026 (N = 79) |
|---|
Virus | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive |
|---|
SARS-CoV-2 | 5 | 6.2 | 4 | 5.1 | 4 | 5.1 |
Influenza Virus | 2 | 2.5 | 1 | 1.3 | 1 | 1.3 |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Rhino/enterovirus | 26 | 32.1 | 36 | 45.6 | 36 | 45.6 |
Adenovirus | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Bocavirus | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Parainfluenza virus type 2 (PIV-2) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) | 2 | 2.5 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Parainfluenza virus type 4 (PIV-4) | 2 | 2.5 | 4 | 5.1 | 4 | 5.1 |
Appendix Table 4: Number
and percentage positive NVRL non-sentinel respiratory specimens by
respiratory virus, week 39 2025, week 40 2025 and the 2025/2026 season.
Data source: NVRL
| Week 39 2025 (N = 211) | Week 40 2025 (N = 179) | 2025/2026 (N = 179) |
|---|
Virus | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive | Total positive | % positive |
|---|
SARS-CoV-2 | 15 | 7.1 | 13 | 7.3 | 13 | 7.3 |
Influenza Virus | 5 | 2.4 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 |
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 |
Rhino/enterovirus | 41 | 19.4 | 36 | 20.1 | 36 | 20.1 |
Adenovirus | 3 | 1.4 | 4 | 2.2 | 4 | 2.2 |
Bocavirus | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 |
Parainfluenza virus type 1 (PIV-1) | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 |
Parainfluenza virus type 2 (PIV-2) | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) | 3 | 1.4 | 1 | 0.6 | 1 | 0.6 |
Parainfluenza virus type 4 (PIV-4) | 2 | 0.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Appendix Table 5:
Influenza type and sub-type distribution among sentinel GP ARI and
non-sentinel respiratory influenza positive specimens for week 39 2025,
week 40 2025 and the 2025/2026 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 (unspecified) |
|---|
Week 39 2025 | Sentinel GP ARI | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 7 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Week 40 2025 | Sentinel GP ARI | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sentinel GP ARI | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Appendix Table 6: RSV type
distribution among sentinel GP ARI and non-sentinel respiratory RSV
positive specimens for week 39 2025, week 40 2025 and the 2025/2026
season. Data source: NVRL
Time period | Specimen source | Total RSV positive | RSV A | RSV B | RSV (unspecified) |
|---|
Week 39 2025 | Sentinel GP ARI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Week 40 2025 | Sentinel GP ARI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Sentinel GP ARI | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Non-sentinel respiratory | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Total | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
