FLU CASES AND hospitalisations are on the rise and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has warned that flu season arrived three to four weeks early this year. 

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), which monitors the spread of communicable diseases in Ireland, has recorded a 42.6% increase in the number of flu cases this week and a 50.7% rise in the number of hospitalisations of people with the virus. 

While those figures may appear stark on first viewing, the HPSC said that levels of influenza are “low to moderate”. 

Last week, according to HPSC data, there were 636 cases of flu recorded. This week, the figure is 907. Hospitalisations rose from 140 last week to 211 this week.  

There have been 12 ICU admissions and seven deaths reported for this season to date, the HPSC said, adding that the number of hospital beds occupied by flu patients “increased sharply” this week.  

Flu cases are highest among young children, those aged less than one and between one and four years old. 

Earlier this week, Children’s Health Ireland warned of an increase in the number of flu cases among children. 

“Vaccination/immunisation remains one of the most effective ways to reduce severe illness from influenza,” the HPSC said in this week’s report.

Today the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) called for Emergency Department Taskforce to begin modelling the national emergency department staffing requirements for this winter, “particularly in light of high flu numbers and circulating winter illnesses”.

“Winter is a busy time in hospitals and in the community and we are already being warned that this year’s flu strain has arrived early and is affecting hospital attendance and capacity.

“As frontline workers are exposed to viruses and experiencing increased pressure due to unfilled vacancies, the effects of short staffing are becoming even more stark for our members on the ground.” 

The INMO also said the HSE “must provide a hospital-by-hospital breakdown of their plan for the coming months”. 

“If there are shortfalls in staffing and planning this winter it will not be possible for our members to provide safe care.”