Third person dies from flu this winter as virus levels increase

A third flu death has been recorded this winter as levels of the virus continue to increase.

One death in a notified influenza case was reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre last week, it said, when 39 patients with hospitalised. Two flu patients were in intensive care.

So far this flu season, 92 people have been hospitalised with flu, virtually all of them with type A, while four people have been admitted to ICU.

Three outbreaks were notified last week, two in the south and one in the north-east, bringing this season’s total to six.

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The HPSC says flu activity continued to increase last week, when the sentinel GP influenza-like illness consultation rate almost doubled compared with the previous week.

Given the continued increase in indicators for the flu, it recommends the use of antivirals for at-risk groups and in those with severe influenza disease.

There were no flu deaths last winter and at least 110 in the 2019/20 season, according to previous HPSC data.

The picture across Europe varies between countries but in general the A strain predominates.

Last week, there were just eight notification of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which had peaked among children late last year. Other respiratory disease such as enterovirus and rhinovirus, continue to circulate.