Health experts in Cork warn of possible further 'surge' in flu cases 

Health experts in Cork have warned there could be “another surge of influenza activity”, with the flu season likely to continue well into next month.

Dr John Sheehan, a GP in Blackpool and Fianna Fáil city councillor, said levels of the infection in the community have been “significant” and that a further spike in cases might occur.

“We are unfortunately still seeing a lot of respiratory illness, though it seems to have gone down a little over the last week,” he said.

“A number of those have had to be admitted to hospital and have been quite unwell, particularly older patients, and the majority of them have tested positive for influenza, so there’s still a significant amount of flu floating around, and the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from it.”

He added that considering the bad weather last week, it is possible that the number of presentations will rise again this week.

“There could have been transport issues or people not wanting to leave their home,” he said.

“We see that over the holiday period. Suddenly there is a big wave afterwards, so as the weather improves we might see a spike in cases.”

He explained that additional GP hours are in place until the end of February and that the urgent virtual care initiative operating out of Cork University Hospital (CUH) has also been helpful for doctors and “saves people waiting 10 or 12 hours in the emergency department”.

Under the initiative, GPs and paramedics can consult directly by phone or by video call with a senior medical decision-maker in emergency medicine or geriatric medicine to make a decision on care.

Meanwhile, Dr Tessa O’Gorman, specialist registrar in public health medicine at the Department of Public Health Southwest, also told The Echo that influenza “continues to circulate at very high levels”.

“We are expecting the peak to occur soon, but it is still not too late to get vaccinated, as the flu season can continue well into February.

“There could be another surge of influenza activity,” Dr O’Gorman said.

She issued the following advice to those with the flu:

“In general, most people with influenza will be able to recover at home, and there are certain things you can do to help with recovery such as getting plenty of rest, keeping warm, taking paracetamol or ibuprofen for a temperature, and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration and keeping away from work or school for 48 hours after symptoms have passed.

“Unfortunately, there are always a few people who are more severely impacted by influenza.

“The more regular symptoms include general aches and pains, weakness, and headaches, but more severe ones which may warrant going to the hospital are difficulty breathing, chest pain, and drowsiness, in particular for young children or older adults.

“If you feel like you are deteriorating or not getting any better, the first port of call should be to ring your GP.”

She encouraged people to visit the HSE website at www2.hse.ie/conditions/flu/ or talk to a GP or pharmacy to avail of the flu vaccine.

The flu cases combined with cold weather have increased pressure on hospitals, with 104 people on trolleys in Cork hospitals on Friday and nearly 700 treated on trolleys across Cork so far this year.

Friday’s figures, compiled by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), included 73 people on trolleys in Cork University Hospital, and 31 in the Mercy.

The figures mean 468 people have been treated on trolleys in Cork University Hospital in 2025 so far, as well as 160 in the Mercy and 68 in Bantry — a total of 696 just a third of the way into the month of January.