FLU FIGURES HAVE risen in the last week, despite the HSE advising that the peak of cases was likely over the Christmas period.

There were 2,049 flu cases recorded in the last week of data, up to midnight on Saturday, 3 January. There were 512 hospitalisations in this time, a HSE spokesperson said.

There were also 588 RSV cases recorded, including 196 hospitalisations, and 216 Covid-19 cases including 66 hospitalisations.

On Monday 5 January, there were 700 people in hospital with flu or RSV.

The HSE said that vaccination remains the best way to avoid becoming ill with flu.

Cases recorded in the previous week ending on 27 December amounted to 1,777, with 374 hospitalisations and three admissions to ICU as a result. 

In a statement on Sunday, the HSE’s CEO Bernard Gloster said the health service was anticipating an increase in demand for services this week.

Gloster said the HSE had an “exceptionally positive improvement” in patient flow over both Christmas and the high flu season, the latter of which he said came earlier in the year than in previous years.

“We do know however from experience, that the first full week of the New Year is always one of exceptionally high demand regardless of the levels of flu,” Gloster added.

“People will have all of the normal healthcare needs and there will also be cases where people have deferred care over Christmas holidays.

“That, added to the high levels of movement as people return to work and school all contributes to a surge in demand for healthcare at the same time.”

He said he expected this week to be “challenging” but said cooperation between HSE staff and the public would make it more manageable.