At least 18 people have died from the illness so far this season with up to 100 people expected to die before the flu season ends. “About 50 per cent of people in our emergency departments are there because of flu,” she said. This flu season is more severe compared to last year and started four weeks earlier, with officials warning it is expected to last for a further five weeks. Minister for Health Simon Harris said the high numbers of flu patients presenting to emergency departments had put “significant pressure” on hospitals. “People don’t attend our emergency departments lightly, people do get complications of the flu, it can be a very severe illness,” she said.

Source: The Irish Times December 27, 2019 14:34 UTC