Outbreak may hit A&E services, warn nurses

THE Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) has warned that A&E services will be stretched beyond breaking point in hospitals if an outbreak of influenza which is sweeping the country gets worse.

The National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) says the outbreak is of Influenza A, a severe form of the virus which may have emanated in Fiji.

The INO says the latest estimates are that between 10% and 40% of the population may be struck down by the bug and that this would result in the standing down of all elective work in certain hospitals.