'Constellation' of viruses circulating among population, warns CMO amid fears of flu surge

Vulnerable people are being urged to get vaccinated against the flu and Covid-19.

A "constellation” of viruses is circulating in the country this winter, the chief medical officer has warned as she urged vulnerable people to get vaccinated against the flu and Covid-19.

Flu notifications sent to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre are on the rise, Prof Breda Smyth told a health briefing today, prompting fears this could signal the start of a significant flu wave. 
 “In the last week we saw a 16% increase in the number of flu cases notified, and an increase in 5% of the number of hospitalisations notified,” she said.