After the return to school and work, peak flu kicks in

ARE we at peak flu yet?

Possibly not.

Flu levels trebled in a week as the country returned to work and school.

Some 20,000 infected patients sought treatment in GP surgeries, while hundreds more were admitted to overcrowded hospitals.

The new figures suggest this latest round is certainly more severe than last winter’s outbreak, with more adults than children being struck down with the illness.

Children were the main victims of the virus immediately after Christmas. But the potentially fatal infection is currently sweeping through the older age groups as they return to work.

It is also particularly affecting pensioners over 65, the HSE warned. And there is also a high rate among babies under a year old.

HSE head of public health Dr Kevin Kelleher says the flu may peak next week or could have already reached its worst levels in recent days. But it will continue to circulate at intense levels for another four to six weeks.

Flu is now considered “widespread” in all part of the country, except for the Midlands counties.

The post-Christmas return to work and school was expected to result in a higher level of infection.

Based on the current trends, flu season is likely to surpass the experience of recent years. It means there’ll be no excuses in future years for a failure to plan ahead.