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.
