Sentinel GP surveillance - high level of influenza cases

Sentinel GP surveillance – high level of influenza cases

As some of you will be aware our practice participates acts as a sentinel practice for acute respiratory illness. This means that we are part of a group of around 100 practices who in conjunction with the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) collect samples from some patients suspected of influenza. The data which are used by HSE to monitor and predict the pattern of influenza activity in Ireland. The sentinel data is showing that both locally and nationally we are seeing a significant spike in respiratory illness and influenza cases, with several of our patients hospitalised.

Typically we see this spike in January which suggests that this might be an important year to get vaccinated if people have not already done so, and we strongly recommend this for those in the groups whom the HSE recommend vaccination.

More information can be found here : Flu strain H3N2: how prepared is the HSE for a winter surge? – The Irish Times

Sentinel GP surveillance – high level of influenza cases