A new threat has also emerged after it was revealed thousands of people who got the winter flu jab have lower protection against one of the forms of influenza A. It could mean those at risk are in greater danger of becoming very ill and hospitalised.
The European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) said that the impact of flu "may be worse" if an A(H3N2) version of the virus dominates, as it is less well-matched with the vaccine given in countries such as Ireland.
ECDC chiefs called on doctors to lower the threshold for giving antiviral medicines to at-risk patients, to reduce their chance of getting seriously ill from flu, because of the threat of this flu strain.
HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster said more than 600 people were admitted to hospital due to Covid, flu and RSV over the last week. We expect flu cases to be at their highest so far this season.
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