The HSE in the South East is urging the public to help prevent the spread of flu and norovirus, by steering clear of hospitals and GP surgeries, so as not to infect others who may be very unwell already.
Restrictions remain in place in University Hospital Waterford, St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny, Wexford General Hospital and South Tipperary General Hospital.
A number of visitor restrictions have also been implemented in many private Nursing Homes and Public Nursing Homes across the region.
According to Dr. Jacinta Mulroe (Specialist in Public Health medicine in the South East):
“What we call weather illnesses such as colds, sore throats, coughs and such like, are viral, self-limiting illnesses and can be treated with fluids and analgesia (painkillers). Most of these mild illnesses are viral and can be treated by yourself at home. Antibiotics will not work on a viral infection, including flu. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and take paracetamol or ibuprofen for temperatures, aches and pains.”
It is not too late to get the flu vaccine and it is provided free of charge for people in at risk groups, which includes everyone aged 65 years and over, pregnant women, anyone over six months of age with a long term illness requiring regular medical follow-up such as chronic lung disease, chronic heart disease, diabetes, cancer or those with lower immunity due to disease or treatment.
Dr. Mulroe adds:
“If you have the flu, the advice is to stay in bed and rest, take fluids and use over-the-counter remedies like paracetamol to ease symptoms. By venturing out to the GP or Emergency Department, you are not only putting your body through a stressful time, you are spreading the virus to people who may be in the at risk groups.
“Only if you are in one of the at risk categories, or you are an otherwise healthy person who is getting worse a week into the flu like illness, should you seek medical advice from your GP. Remember, there will be sicker, immuno-compromised, and elderly and frail people at the surgery and in our hospitals, for whom exposure to flu could prove fatal, so think before your head out the door.
“The vaccine is our best protection against a very unpredictable virus. The flu vaccine helps your immune system to produce antibodies to the flu virus. If you then come into contact with the virus, these antibodies will attack it and reduce your chance of becoming very sick. You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine, and the flu vaccine works within two weeks.”
You can visit www.hse.ie/winter or www.undertheweather.ie for lots of advice and self-care tips for treating mild and viral illnesses.
