A new and potentially lethal strain of flu which has been blamed for the deaths of six children in the UK is now spreading rapidly in the Republic.
Large numbers of people are attending their GPs with symptoms of influenza A (H3N2) Fujian type. The National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) says the number of new cases have doubled over the past two weeks.
It estimates the rate of infection is now 70 cases per every 100,000 of the population.
Last night, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said he was concerned that the number of new cases here had doubled over the past two weeks.
He told The Irish Times that contingency plans were being prepared by his department so that it would be prepared for any major outbreak. Such an outbreak would have the potential to put serious pressure on acute hospitals.
The Minister emphasised that not all cases would require hospitalisation but added: "When these things happen prioritisation takes place and if hospitalisation is necessary then it has to happen and we have to take steps to ensure it happens."
The virus has been circulating here since September when 160 students attending a boys secondary school in Co Kildare became ill. Some 23 of them had to be hospitalised. The school was closed in an attempt to contain the virus but it was not known at the time that the students had actually contracted flu.
Another outbreak at a Dublin boarding school, St Columba's in Rathfarnham, followed with more than 80 pupils and one member of staff affected.
The NDSC moved yesterday to urge those over the age of 65, those with heart conditions or asthma, and children or teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy to immediately get the flu vaccine.
Mr Martin said he was so perturbed at the low uptake of the vaccine among healthcare workers that his officials organised a conference call with the chief executives of all the State's health boards yesterday to stress the importance of redoubling their efforts to ensure their hospital staff, in particular, got the vaccine.
He said the vaccine offered "some protection" against the new strain of flu, which originated in China and has been circulating in Australia and New Zealand for several months.
The director of the NDSC, Dr Darina O'Flanagan, said the people most at risk were those who suffered from chronic illnesses and she stressed that it was not too late for them to be vaccinated. It was early in the outbreak which was likely to last for another six to eight weeks, she said.
She added that the amount of flu here now was the highest reported in Ireland for this time of year since influenza surveillance began three years ago.
The UK with its large population base could, she said, be expected to have a number of flu deaths every year but the fact there had been six over such a short period was unusual and tragic.
She confirmed there have been no deaths here from the flu and she emphasised most people who became infected would make a full recovery.
Symptoms of influenza usually develop over a matter of hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. It is different to the common cold which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature.
Dr O'Flanagan said most people with influenza are sick for a few days. She advised anyone with symptoms to go home, go to bed and take plenty of fluids as well as paracetamol. If they did not improve they should see their GP, she said.