The Hard Shoulder Flu season - are you prepared?
Nov 24, 2025
Dr. Scott Walken, a general practitioner and clinical lead for infection control, discusses the early surge in flu cases due to viral evolution, highlighting symptoms of the H3 strain such as rapid onset fever and muscle pain. He stresses the importance of vaccination for vulnerable groups like the elderly and healthcare workers. Tony Fitzpatrick, from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, addresses hospital staffing pressures with 6,500 vacancies, cautioning about increased cases among the elderly and young children, and calls for urgent measures to alleviate service demands.
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Flu Season Has Shifted Earlier
- Flu this year is circulating three to four weeks earlier than usual across Europe.
- Dr. Scott Walken links this earlier surge to additional viral evolution producing a more transmissible strain.
H3 Strain Is More Severe
- The dominant circulating strain is H3 which can be somewhat more severe than other influenza types.
- Symptoms remain classic flu signs: sudden high fever, cough, sore throat and prominent muscle pain.
Get Vaccinated If Eligible
- Get vaccinated if you're eligible, including those aged over 60 and children aged 2–17 via the nasal spray.
- Carers, healthcare workers and people working with poultry or pigs should prioritise vaccination too.