Influenza death toll now stands at nine

AS many as nine people have died as a result of influenza so far this winter, according to the HSE.

Of the nine, three died during the second week of this month, the health service said yesterday in its weekly influenza update.

The dominate strain of influenza this year is the H1N1 virus – also known as swine flu, the virus that resulted in a pandemic ten years ago.

HSE director of public health Dr John Cuddity said this year’s vaccine was a good match for the current flu strain, and he encouraged those in at-risk groups to get the jab.

He said: ‘It is still not too late for people in the risk groups to avail of the vaccine because we expect to see the influenza circulate for several weeks yet this season.’

During the second week of this month, there were 254 admissions to hospital as a result of influenza, a 68% rise on the 151 in the previous week, the HSE said.

In all, there have been 545 admissions to hospital as a result of flu to date this winter season.

‘The age group mainly affected by this is the under-fives and the next highest age group affected, in terms of hospitalisations, is the over-65s,’ said Dr Cuddity.

There have been 45 admissions to intensive care units as a result of influenza this season with 16 of these last week. The rate of which people are going to their GP with influenza-like illnesses has also risen over this period, going up to 49 per 100,000 from 34 per 100,000 the week before.

On the issue of emergency departments, the HSE said that attendances have significantly increased from the same period last year. In the week ending Tuesday, January 15, there was an increase of 16.8%, or 3,753, in the number of attendances at A&Es compared to the same time last year – with admissions also soaring, by 11.4%, or 734.

In terms of the patients aged over 75, there has been an increase of 8%, or 229, in the number attending A&Es, while admissions rose by 1.3%.