Influenza activity remains below baseline levels in Ireland
Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity was at low levels in Ireland during the week ending February 23rd.
ILI rates have decreased to 11.9 per 100,000 population during week 8 2020 (week ending February 23rd 2020) from 18.2 per 100,000 (updated) during week 7 2020 (week ending February 16th 2020). ILI rates are now below baseline levels. Overall this season, influenza A (H3N2) was the dominant influenza virus circulating in the community, with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 circulating at lower levels. In recent weeks, increasing influenza B activity has been seen and influenza B was the dominant virus circulating during week 8.
The number of reported influenza hospitalisations decreased to 120 cases during week 8. The highest hospitalisation rates were seen in people aged 65 years and older and in children less than one year of age. To date this season, 3,585 hospitalised confirmed influenza cases have been reported to HPSC, the majority due to influenza A. One hundred and twenty-eight confirmed flu cases have been admitted to critical care units, the majority due to influenza A. One hundred and four influenza outbreaks and 98 influenza-associated deaths have been reported to HPSC to date this season. The majority of the deaths have occurred in persons aged 65 years and older. Excess all-cause mortality was reported in Ireland, in adults aged 65 years and older, from week 51 2019 to week 2 2020 inclusive.
What do you do if you have flu-like symptoms
Anyone who gets flu should stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and use over-the-counter remedies like paracetamol to ease symptoms. Advice, tips, information and videos on getting over flu and other common illnesses are available at the HSE website, www.undertheweather.ie
When to seek help
Adults
If you are in an at-risk group with flu symptoms OR if you are not in an at-risk group but your flu symptoms are severe or getting worse you should contact your GP. If you need to visit your GP or the Emergency Department, please phone first to explain that you might have flu.
Children
If your child has flu and their symptoms are severe or last for more than one week contact your GP. Please phone first to explain that they might have flu.
Respiratory Hygiene
Covering your cough and sneeze can stop the spread of germs that make people sick.
- DO use a tissue and place it immediately in the bin. Wash your hands or use a hand sanitiser
- DO cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve.
- DON’T cough or sneeze into your hands. You’ll end up spreading germs to everything you touch.
Posters and social media resources for respiratory hygiene are available to download from the HPSC website or order free from healthpromotion.ie.
Influenza-like illness (ILI) GP consultation rates give an indication of the overall community levels 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 on the HPSC website.