A Letterkenny GP surgery has issued a call to the public to protect themselves from flu, as health services come under severe pressure with respiratory tract infections.
Donegal has the highest reported rates of flu in Ireland, as well as a significant spread of Covid-19 infections.
It is expected that the spread of flu will continue to rise towards a peak in the coming weeks, the HSE has warned.
Doctors at Scally McDaid Roarty in Letterkenny have pointed out that Donegal has the lowest level of flu vaccine uptake in the Saolta western region.
They said: “Our hospitals, like our GP surgeries, are creaking at the seams at the moment with patients with respiratory tract infections.
“Some of our patients have become really really ill. Covid infections are still high, RSV infections are starting to reduce thankfully, but flu virus infections are very high and the numbers are still climbing.”
Nationally, 414 people were hospitalised with flu in the first week of this year, out of 1,628 reported cases.
The HPSC also recorded 1,200 cases of COVID-19, of whom 459 were hospitalised. This is the highest number of COVID-19 cases seen since the last COVID-19 wave in August 2023.
Staff at Scally McDaid Roarty are calling on people to get the flu vaccine and to book a children’s flu vaccine spray to protect younger patients.
“If you or your child are someone who is vulnerable for whatever reason, or if you care for or have contact with a vulnerable person, please please get the flu vaccine. It could save a prolonged hospital stay or even your life,” the GPs said.
The HSE has reiterated health advice that if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or Influenza and feel unwell, you should:
- stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone
- avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from COVID-19.
- Seek further advice if you are unwell and you are aged 65 years or older; if you’re pregnant; if you have a chronic medical condition or a weakened immune system, or if your symptoms do not improve after 7 days or become progressively worse.
