Flu cases have surged this winter, with more than 400 people hospitalised so far, RTE reported.
Interim Chief Medical Officer, Professor Mary Horgan, warned of high flu levels expected between Christmas and the New Year and urged the public to get vaccinated.
She highlighted that flu rates are highest among children aged one to four years, followed by those aged 80 and older.
According to Dr Lois O’Connor, Public Medicine Consultant with the HSE, 528 flu cases were reported last week, doubling the previous week’s figures.
Among these, 149 individuals required hospitalisation. She emphasised the importance of staying home if unwell to prevent the virus’s spread and to aid recovery.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr. O’Connor advised people feeling sick to take paracetamol, stay hydrated, and rest. If symptoms worsen, she urged them to seek medical advice. Staying home is critical, she stressed, to avoid infecting others in offices, Christmas gatherings, or social visits.
Dr. O’Connor also cautioned against visiting vulnerable family members, such as the elderly or young children, while symptomatic. It is crucial to wait until full recovery and at least 48 hours after symptoms have subsided before resuming normal activities.