Flu death toll jumps to 34 as virus circulates

FOUR more people have died from the flu, bringing the death toll from the virus to 34 this winter.

The majority of deaths were people who were over 65. Flu is still circulating in Ireland, although numbers fell slightly last week. The GP consultation rates are highest in children and adults aged less than 65 years old.

Swine flu remains the dominant virus in circulation. Low levels of influenza A(H3N2) and B continue to circulate.

Flu will continue to circulate in the community for at least the next four weeks.

Preliminary results from Canada and Hong Kong, where influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 is the dominant circulating virus, indicate good flu vaccine effectiveness.

The highest hospitalisation rates continue to be seen in those under five.

To date this season, 1,672 hospitalised confirmed flu cases have been reported.