There has been early start to the flu season this year. Photograph: iStock“Significant pressures” on healthcare services is expected in coming weeks amid an early start to the flu season, the Cabinet has been told. Almost 2,000 new influenza cases were reported in the week ending November 29th, double the previous week. However, with flu cases set to put a strain on healthcare services, Ministers were told that co-circulation of RSV and Covid-19 will compound pressures. The number of people admitted as inpatients in hospitals due to flu also doubled in a week, with 418 hospitalisations recorded during the last week of November, compared with 213 the previous week.

Source: The Irish Times December 10, 2025 09:02 UTC