What can we do better to halt the surge in flu cases and hospital overcrowding?

There are hopeful signs that a universal vaccine may emerge in the near future that has the potential to reduce the need for an annual flu vaccination booster which would be a gamechanger in the annual surge in flu cases, writes Catherine Conlon

The covid-19 pandemic taught us that masks are among the simplest and most effective way to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. File photo

In the first week of the year, the number of flu cases spiked by almost two thirds. There were 3,802 cases in the week to January 4 with 956 hospital admissions and seven deaths, according to data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). 

During the same period there were 60 outbreaks in nursing homes.