Flu levels 'very high', with 56 deaths linked to virus this winter

'Influenza activity remained very high and continued to circulate at very high levels,' the HPRA warned on Thursday.

Flu levels remain “very high”, with 56 deaths now linked to the virus this winter.

The latest figures come as hospitals continue to face severe overcrowding.

Last week saw 801 people admitted to hospitals with flu, including six admitted to intensive care units. The data also shows six people died with flu last week, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre said.

“Influenza activity remained very high and continued to circulate at very high levels,” the HPRA warned on Thursday. 

The weekly case numbers came to 3,624, only slightly down on the high of 3,793 recorded in the first days of the month. People aged over 80 and children aged less than one year old were most likely to catch the flu.

However numbers of people infected with RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) dropped sharply by 30% to 575 cases, compared to 794 the week before.

This is still, however, far higher than numbers were this time last year and during these weeks in 2023.

The RSV rates last week were highest among children aged under four.

Covid-19 remained at “low-moderate levels" with fewer cases reported last week than the week before.

The numbers in hospital with the virus also dropped to 57 from 68 the week before. While the number of covid deaths remains low compared to other winters, some 59 people have now died this winter from covid-19.

Overall pressures from these viruses left hospitals completely full and 605 patients unable to get a bed, the trolley count by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation showed on Thursday.