Older people urged not to look after sick children as country sees record level of RSV cases

The Chief Medical Officer said we have seen a record number of RSV cases in Ireland the majority being small children and the elderly.

The Chief Medical Officer has urged parents not to ask grandparents or older people to look after children with respiratory illnesses due to a record number of reported cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Almost 650 cases of RSV were reported in Ireland in the past week — the highest number ever recorded in this country. The majority of cases are occurring in small children and older people while flu cases are also on the rise.