The current outbreak of flu in the Republic and the UK has the potential to reach epidemic proportions, a London virologist said yesterday.
Prof John Oxford, on a visit to Dublin, spoke about the deaths of six children in the UK from the virus, which he said was very worrying so early in the flu season. It was also very unsettling that five of the children had not been suffering from any underlying medical condition.
Urging people at risk to have the flu vaccine, he said the virus tended to "rip through children", who then brought it home to parents and grandparents.
"People should get the vaccine now, today. I don't mean next week. I cannot explain why these children died, nor can I give any reassurance that there will not be more deaths among children." he said.
Prof Oxford, who is professor of virology at St Bartholomew's and London Hospitals, said many children were being vaccinated against flu in the US, but the "fuss" over the MMR vaccine in the UK seemed to have dissuaded people from vaccinating their children against flu.
"We will know in four to five weeks whether this outbreak will reach epidemic proportions," he said.
During epidemics about half of households have one or more members who contract the virus.
Influenza A and B are now circulating in the Republic, and record numbers have been attending their GPs in recent weeks with flu-like symptoms.
Prof Oxford also said he would be very surprised if the Sars virus had gone away completely. It could still cause an "explosive" pandemic that could emulate the influenza pandemics of 1918, 1957 and 1968.
"Viruses are very unpredictable, and should never be disregarded," he said.