Over 200 children hospitalised in fifth worst f lu season

MORE than 200 children have been hospitalised so far this flu season, which has been described as the fifth worst on record.

As of the end of last week 34 people had died from the illness though the HSE would not confirm last night if that number includes any children.

However, health chiefs said there has been a ‘significant increase’ in the number of people being hospitalised with flu symptoms compared to this time last year.

HSE figures revealed that by the end of last week – week six of winter flu season – 223 children under 15 years had been admitted to hospital with the virus – 18 more than this time last year.

And the number children in admitted to intensive care doubled from 6 to 12.

In total, 1,454 people were hospitalised with the flu last week in what has been described as the ‘peak’ of the flu season by the HSE. Of this figure, 72 were admitted to the intensive care unit. Kevin Death: Seán Hughes, 15 Kelleher, assistant national director for public health and child health, said: ‘The odds are that by now, there must be some children under 15 who have died.’

Dublin schoolboy Seán Hughes, 15, died just days after becoming ill with flu-like symptoms earlier this month. It has not been confirmed if flu was the cause of death.

Dr Kelleher said that children returning to school following the Christmas break had a ‘very clear’ impact on flu levels among young people. It was confirmed that at the end of last week, 34 people had died so far from the illness, an increase of ten from the previous week.

The flu season is expected to continue for another four weeks, bringing the total length to at least 12 weeks.

This would be an increase from last year, when flu season lasted between eight and nine weeks.

Despite the high levels of children being hospitalised, the HSE only consider children over six months old with an underlying condition a high-risk group.

Meanwhile, the UK’s NHS this year started to provide free vaccines to very young children as well as to all primary schools students in certain areas.

Dr Kelleher said that while children weren’t a campaign target group the Irish health service’s vaccines drive, he encouraged people to get the flu jab if possible.

‘National guidance is that the people who should be vaccinated are people over 65, people under 65 with preexisting medical conditions, pregnant women, and healthcare workers,’ he said.

‘Those are the priority grouping.’

He added: ‘Our message is still clear: if people still can get the vaccine, they should do. And secondly they should follow our advice on staying at home, sneezing appropriately (ie, turning away from others, and using a tissue before disposing of it) and keeping away from people if they’ve got any symptoms.’

The HSE also revealed that while this week’s report has shown a ‘significant increase’ in those hospitalised compared to the same period last year, the number of deaths were described as not being ‘terribly severe’ as they were at similar levels in 2017.

Dr Kelleher explained that between 60% and 65% of people are affected by what is known as Virus B, which is a ‘milder flu’ that is less likely to cause the same complications as other viruses.

Some 507 people were waiting on trolleys in hospital yesterday including nine children.

34 fatalities so far in outbreak