Dublin | 17 Feb 2012
The HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre today (Thursday) urged people in high-risk groups to get vaccinated against influenza, as the number of reported cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Ireland has almost doubled in the past week.
ILI rates have risen from 15.7 per 100,000 to 26.2 per 100,000 during the second week of February and are now above threshold levels which means that flu is actively circulating in the community, according to Dr Joan O’Donnell, Specialist in Public Health Medicine.
“People who are at risk of the complications of flu need to get vaccinated against the disease now.
“The vaccine is available free of charge from GPs for all people in at risk groups, and from pharmacists for everyone aged 65 and over. An administration charge may apply to people who don’t hold medical cards or GP visit cards.
“Those at risk include:
- Everyone aged 65 years and over
- Anyone over six months of age with a long term illness requiring regular medical follow-up such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease or diabetes
- Pregnant women
- Those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment
- Children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy
- Residents of nursing homes and other long stay facilities
- Healthcare workers and carers
“People who were vaccinated last year still need to get their flu jab this year as immunity from the vaccine lasts twelve months and wanes over time.
“Flu is different from the common cold. Flu usually develops quickly over a matter of hours and symptoms include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. The common cold tends to come on gradually and symptoms usually include a runny nose and a normal temperature. Anyone in the at-risk categories who develops influenza symptoms should contact their GP.
“As influenza is now circulating in the community, health professionals should use antiviral drugs for the treatment or prevention of influenza in high-risk groups.
“Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, disposing of the tissue as soon as possible and cleaning your hands as soon as you can are important measures in helping prevent the spread of germs and reducing the risk of transmission.”
ILI rates give an indication of the overall level of influenza activity in Ireland and are reported by selected GPs as part of a surveillance system jointly run by the Irish College of General Practitioners, the National Virus Reference Laboratory and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
The weekly influenza surveillance reports are available at:
Further information on influenza and flu vaccine is available at:
