Covid and measles cases on the rise but flu rate waning
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There are now 77 measles cases in Ireland, while covid-19 has also seen a sharp rise in recent weeks — but flu and RSV cases are on the decline.
Figures published by the Health Protection and Surveillence Centre (HPSC) show covid in particular has spiked since the beginning of June.
On June 3, there were 440 cases recorded by the HPSC.
As of last Saturday, July 20, that number had risen to 982.
There were 67 outbreaks.
It had hit a peak on June 24 of 1,087 cases, while the total number of cases in the HPSC's 'winter season' — which began in week 40 of 2023 — is 21,986.
Some 114 of last week's 982 cases were recorded in Cork.
Two people died in the last week from the virus, while 404 people were hospitalised as a result of complications.
The HSPC said: "This current wave is a reminder that covid-19 continues to circulate throughout the year and remains a considerable burden on the population and our health services when circulation is high.
In a separate report, the HPSC said measles cases continue to rise in 2024, with a total of 77 confirmed cases and a further 19 under review.
In 2023, there were four confirmed cases in total.
Of the 77 confirmed cases so far this year, just six have been recorded in HSE South (Cork and Kerry), with the majority in HSE Dublin and Midlands (24 cases.)
The airborne infection is often associated with a rash, but the virus can spread around the body, potentially leading to severe complications, and in some cases death.
The majority of cases have been recorded in adults aged between 25 and 34, the HPSC's latest report on the virus says.
Of the 77 confirmed cases, 37 are males, 37 are females, and gender was not recorded for three cases.
There have been 12 outbreaks of measles in 2024 — all are in private houses/extended family, private houses or in a school/residential institution, with between two and 12 confirmed cases in each outbreak.
Four of them came in the last three weeks.
There is better news when it comes to influenza, as cases have continued to fall in the last three months.
Having peaked at the beginning of 2024 with 1,623 cases, there were just 33 cases recorded last week and 28 cases the week before.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most viral age group is those aged 65 or over, with 11 of the 33 cases being recorded.
There has not been a death from flu in more than a month, the HPSC data shows.
Anyone in one of the at-risk groups can get their flu vaccine for free.
This includes people aged 60 and over, and children aged between two and 17 for the 2024/2025 flu season.