Flu infections in Northern Ireland may have peaked but still remain high, according to health officials.
According to the Public Health Agency (PHA), just over 700 new cases of influenza were diagnosed here in the first week of January, down from almost 1,000 in the week between Christmas and New Year.
This surge has resulted in significant disruption to emergency care services across NI with all emergency departments (EDs) experiencing lengthy waits over the last week.
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In its latest respiratory surveillance report from January 8, the PHA says that during week 01 (December 30-January 5), influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity decreased across the majority of surveillance indicators while Covid-19 levels remained relatively stable.
But the PHA warned that these changes in surveillance indicators should be interpreted with caution in light of changes in social mixing behaviour over the New Year period (including schools and many workplaces being closed), and changes in healthcare service use during this time.
The number of new influenza episodes decreased in week 01, with 702 identified, compared to 924 reported in week 52 of 2024. The number of new RSV episodes decreased to 128, down from 142 the previous week.
The highest influenza rates in week 01 was in the 75+ age group while RSV was highest in those aged 0-4. Antrim and Newtownabbey had the highest influenza episode rate in the past week while RSV rates were highest in Belfast.
The number of new Covid-19 episodes increased in week 01 from 51 in the last week of 2024 to 63 episodes this week and was highest in the 75+ age group and in the Mid and East Antrim area.
Officials from the Department of Health say it has been the worst year for flu cases since before the Covid-19 pandemic, but believe the number of hospital admissions has peaked.
Appearing before an emergency meeting of Stormont's Health Committee this week, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the number of people admitted to hospital with flu in Northern Ireland this winter is 3.6 times higher than the previous year.
Mr Nesbitt told MLAs that patients facing long waits in hospital emergency departments were often having to “surrender their dignity and privacy” while staff were facing “moral injury”. He also announced that flu vaccines, currently available for free to those aged 65 and over, would be extended to the 50-64 age group.
The PHA has also renewed an appeal for people eligible for a winter vaccine to come forward as emergency departments remain under severe pressure this week. Health officials are urging everyone to take steps to reduce the spread of flu, Covid-19 RSV – particularly by getting vaccinated if you are eligible.
It comes as the NHS is warning the numbers being hospitalised after falling seriously ill with flu is still rising and putting hospitals under huge strain, the Mirror reports. However it can take over a week for symptoms to escalate to the point hospitalisation is required so infection rates are always expected to start falling before hospital admissions do.
Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: "We are continuing to see high levels of flu this week and ongoing admissions to hospitals and intensive care. Although activity has remained stable coming into the new year, influenza activity can be unpredictable as people return to work and school and opportunities for the virus to spread can increase.
"The predominant circulating flu strain continues to be A H1N1 clade 5a.2a, and the World Health Organisation has so far concluded that the H1 component of the flu vaccine is well matched. If you're still offered a vaccine through local services, it's important that you take this up, including if you are pregnant or a health and social care worker."
Why is the NHS under so much pressure?
A decade-long funding squeeze left hospitals regularly functioning at close to capacity so winter pressures pushed them over the edge every year. Every winter increasing population demand has made the situation gradually worse for hospitals which have been starved of capital funding to build new wards and increase capacity.
This year flu infections are spreading at a higher rate than in recent years at the same time as norovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are circulating at high levels.
How much worse will the flu surge get?
With children returning to school this week infection levels are unlikely to quickly fall and may plateau for a few weeks.
This increased indoor mixing among youngsters may also drive increasing levels of the common cold caused by viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (HMPV).
What should I do if I fall ill?
Flu is very infectious and easily spread to other people. You're more likely to give it to others in the first 5 days. The NHS says try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities.
To reduce the risk of spreading flu:
wash your hands often with warm water and soap cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze (if you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow, not into your hand) bin used tissues as quickly as possibleHow and when should I seek medical assistance?
If you're generally healthy, most flu-like illnesses will be short-lived and don't require specific treatment. You can try resting at home, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking painkillers like paracetamol.
You should contact the NHS if you have flu symptoms and you're over-65, pregnant or have a long term medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease or lung disease.
Contact NHS 111 or your GP if:
Your symptoms don't improve after a week You develop chest pain, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing You start coughing up blood You have severe difficulty breathing, such as gasping or choking You have severe chest pain in the middle of your chest You feel more drowsy than usual or have trouble waking up Your lips or skin turn very pale, blue, or greyHow should I self-treat flu?
The NHS advises to get rest and sleep, keep warm and if necessary take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains. Parents can give give appropriate paracetamol or ibuprofen to children if they're distressed or uncomfortable check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable or speak to a pharmacist or GP if you're not sure
One risk when contracting the flu and other illnesses is dehydration so the NHS advises drinking plenty of water. Your pee should be light yellow or clear.
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