THE FIRST two deaths from flu in the Republic this season were confirmed yesterday as rates of flu-like illness in the community continue to increase.
The rates of infection almost doubled in the past week for the second week in a row, with more than 9,000 cases of flu diagnosed.
The two deaths from flu were those of an adult male in the east and an adult female in the west. Both had underlying health conditions. One died from swine flu, the other from influenza B. One was over 65.
Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, said the rate of influenza-like illness in the community was 204 cases in 100,000 of the population this week, compared to a corrected figure of 109 in 100,000 last week. This is among the highest rates recorded to date. In October 2009 during the swine flu pandemic, a rate of 210 cases in 100,000 was reported, but was corrected a week later to 201.2 cases in 100,000.
Some 393 people have now been admitted to hospital with flu, up from 114 a week ago, and 72 people have been admitted to intensive care, up from 33 last week. Forty-two patients remain in intensive care, five of whom are children. The sharp rise in admissions was partly attributed to delayed reporting over the holidays.
Dr Derval Igoe of the national Health Protection Surveillance Centre said 30 per cent of those admitted to intensive care with flu did not have underlying health conditions. Flu activity rates were “very high” and could remain so for several weeks.
Dr Holohan said hospitals were coping well and could scale up their intensive care beds if necessary. He did not expect vaccine shortages.