DESPITE widespread concern over flu, only two cases have been positively identified by the national testing centre.
However, the cases identified by the Virus Reference Laboratory in University College Dublin are of the more virulent Type A influenza. And a further eight cases have been indicated in less conclusive, serological tests.
An increase in admissions is being reported by accident and emergency departments all over the Republic, with elective admissions postponed in many health board areas.
According to the spokesman for the Virus Reference Laboratory, the cases tested are consistent with the "Wuhan" strain already found in the UK and named after its place of origin in China.
The laboratory said it was too early to make comparisons with previous years. We've still had relatively very few samples, but we'll be getting a lot more in coming days which should make the picture, much clearer by next week.
Dublin hospitals were coming under pressure from admissions yesterday, with patients having to wait long hours and being treated on trolleys in corridors.
St James's Hospital had been "snowed under" over the early new year period, according to a spokeswoman, with "huge" pressure on its accident and emergency department and on beds.
Elderly people with chest infections dominated the extra intake.
A spokeswoman could not quote figures but said it appeared to be "worse than for several years past."
The Eastern Health Board confirmed that the flu virus was circulating, but said there was no evidence of any epidemic. "There is always a flu virus circulating at this time and we have at least normal seasonal activity," said the board's Director of Public Health, Dr Brian O'Herlihy.
"We're seeing a lot of infections of the upper respiratory tract and the main respiratory tract. But most of the illnesses out there are not flu and a lot of it is just the common cold. There is a flu virus but it's not exceptionally high at the present time."
There was "no need for most people to go near hospital," he added. "The family doctor is perfectly qualified, maybe better qualified, to deal with the vast majority of these cases.
The spokesman added that many other common viruses were showing up in tests. They include the Respiratory Syncitial Virus (RSV), which produces debilitating respiratory disease in young children. So far 20 such cases had been detected in December and a further 13 in January.
Admission at the Mater are up from a daily average of 23 or 24 to "the mid thirties", according to a spokesman.
"Since Christmas we've had a huge increase in numbers, both in accident and emergency and admissions. And it seems to be mostly elderly people suffering from respiratory problems or pneumonia type illnesses.
St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, was "very full" yesterday, mostly with elderly patients suffering from illnesses such as pneumonia and strokes, and also patients admitted through casualty.
Beaumont Hospital also confirmed a major increase in numbers attending the A&E department over the past few days.
North Western Health Board area GPs reported a "marked increase" of flu like illnesses and respiratory tract infections. Sligo and Letterkenny general hospitals were "extremely busy".
A similar situation exists in the North Eastern Health Board area.
Extra beds have been provided in some South Eastern Health Board hospitals, and some elective admissions have been postponed. "We are in the same situation as the rest of the country with increased demand for medical beds," said a spokeswoman.
A spokeswoman for the Southern Health Board said that hospitals were "very busy" with more than 40 extra patients, mainly elderly, admitted yesterday morning. Some admissions have been rescheduled. "The hospitals are all full but we are coping," she said.
The Western Health Board CEO, Mr Eamonn Hannan, said flu was not making a "major impact". "We are all right in Galway which is the acute hospital centre, although we have the usual bed shortages," said Mr Hannan.
More than 12 patients are being accommodated on trolleys and reclining chairs at Naas General Hospital, according to the chairwoman of Democratic Left, Ms Catherine Murphy.
She said overcrowding at the hospital was so bad that staff were forced to attend to patients lying on trolleys in corridors and in a small kitchen area.