Christmas week to be peak of flu – currently 3,287 reported flu cases

The HSE is today updating the latest information on respiratory illness and the performance of the healthcare system at its busiest period.

The number of reported flu cases in the week ending Saturday December 13th (week 50) was 3,287. This is up from 41 cases in week 40; 457 cases in week 45; and 2,943 cases in week 49. While the rate of growth is slowing the rate of infection is growing and very active in the community.

Surveillance figures report the continued presence of Covid-19 albeit reduced from 427 cases in Week 40 to 171 cases in week 50. RSV is growing and in the same period rose from 18 to 435.

Commenting on these figures, HSE CEO Bernard Gloster said, “We had been predicting a range of 700 to 1,500 cases being in hospital on any one day at the height of the flu. That range has now narrowed to a band of 800 to 1,100. We will also see the same number of new cases hospitalised per week. Last week it was 816 new cases hospitalised and today we have 634 people in hospital with flu. The latest modelling data available to me today is that the flu will peak Christmas week (week 52).”

The flu in circulation is easily transmissible and can make people feel very unwell. People are asked to consider a number of steps at this point in the flu season, including the importance of key protective measures for all, and especially during periods of high transmission:

• get your seasonal flu vaccine now
• practice respiratory etiquette
• wash your hands frequently
• stay away from others, or at home, if you are unwell and able to do so
• If you have symptoms, then for those few days please do not visit vulnerable relatives/friends/neighbours at home, in hospital or in care settings. Arrange for someone else to have these key contacts
• If you are unwell and need medications, try to send someone else to collect from the pharmacy
• If you are ill and need to attend for care you should consider wearing a mask if you can and if a local healthcare facility asks you to do so we would appreciate your co-operation
• There is no general call for public to use masks, but some people may wish to do so in crowded indoor spaces. 

If you need healthcare and are unwell for any reason, then please note that there are many options available to you. GP services, Local Medical and Injury Units, Out of Hours Services, Pharmacy and please go to HSE.ie for good health advice.

Emergency Departments are seeing unprecedented attendances even for this time of year. People will be seen in accordance with the triage of their presentation and this is why people are urged to always consider all of the options available.

Bernard Gloster continued, “In November 2024 we saw an average of 4,359 attendances per day at ED, this year that was 4,654 and yet we saw daily average trolley waits decrease from 318 to 255. When we go to the first 11 days of December last year, we saw 4,544 per day and this year it is an unprecedented increase of 5,097. Against that backdrop we are holding a relatively strong trolley wait position. We have a long way to go and I want to thank our healthcare workers for responding to the Minister’s support for the reforms and resources that have enabled this. We are working at full capacity to support people and while I anticipate serious pressures in the next short while I am confident that working with the community, we will manage this season and the impact of this early and hard hitting flu.”