Dublin: RSV and influenza cases are increasing in young children and adults. Grandparents and the elderly are being asked to look after children with lung ailments as rising cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza put them at risk, says the chief medical officer.
She urged parents with sick children to keep them home from school and childcare for 48 hours after symptoms have significantly resolved. When children are sick at home, many of us rely on grandparents and older relatives to help with childcare. If yes, it puts our senior relatives at risk, so please be careful."
Figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Center show that 648 cases were recorded in Ireland between 7 and 13 November, with 65% of cases in the 0-4 age group. The data also shows that 282 people were admitted to the hospital due to RSV.
A record number of RSV cases were reported last week, with almost 650 RSV cases reported in Ireland. This is the highest number ever recorded in the country and most of the cases are among young children and the elderly. The number of flu patients is also rising sharply. Although two-thirds of over-65s are affected by work, she said uptake should be higher.
As a result, health services are seeing more hospitalizations, which they say has an additional impact on the health system. We can play our part in reversing this trend and protecting those at risk.
Get your flu jab if you haven't already. Currently, two-thirds of adults age 65 and older have had the flu jab. It needs to rise further, Professor Smith urged people to get the flu vaccine in a video message released by the Department of Health.
This week we’ve seen a record number of RSV cases in Ireland, the majority being small children and the elderly. ‘Flu cases are also rising sharply.
— Chief Medical Officer (@CMOIreland) November 18, 2022
Protect yourself and others from winter viruses by getting your ‘flu jab. #ForUsAll #FluVaccine #YourBestShot pic.twitter.com/JvQvooOVqu
The clinical lead in infection control with the Irish College of GPs believes that the increase in cases is due to children not being exposed to the viruses during the pandemic. RSV is a common winter infection and increases dramatically every winter.
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