The current flu outbreak may have peaked but is expected to continue at very high levels for another five weeks, according to the Health Service Executive. So far this winter, the outbreak has been responsible for 22 deaths, 17 of them among over-65s. The flu outbreak has put great strain on hospitals, despite faster throughput of patients. The health service was getting “busier and busier every year”, he pointed out, having seen an additional 30,000 people last year compared to 2018. HSE officials said they expected the flu outbreak would continue for another five weeks though it will be next week before it can be confirmed that the number of cases has peaked.

Source: The Irish Times January 02, 2020 17:48 UTC