FERMANAGH is now battling what health officials describe as the most severe outbreak of seasonal influenza since 2010, with cases surging at an unprecedented rate.
New figures from the Public Health Authority show flu cases have tripled in just two weeks, rising from 273 to 954.
Locally, infection rates in Fermanagh and Omagh have leapt from 4.3 per 100,000 to 27.4 in only six weeks, placing severe strain on schools, GP surgeries and hospital services.
The Western Health and Social Care Trust confirmed that beds at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) are now significantly over capacity, with 30 additional ‘escalation beds’ brought into use above the hospital’s 211 funded beds.
“We are acutely aware of the continuing challenges and extreme pressures across our acute hospital sites,” a Trust spokesperson said.
“Unfortunately, due to these pressures, patients waiting for admission are having to wait longer in our Emergency Departments than we would like.
“We apologise for this. We want to reassure the public that we are doing the best we can, and we thank our staff for the excellent care they provide under difficult circumstances.”
The Trust appealed to visitors to help minimise the spread of infection.
They can do this by washing hands before and after visiting, visiting only one patient, and avoiding moving between wards.
Meanwhile, Enniskillen pharmacist Paul Hughes said vaccines were in high demand, but there has been no stock since November.
“In the past few weeks schools across Enniskillen have seen dropping numbers of pupils,” he said. “And its because the flu is so easy spread. One child has it, spreads to six, spreads to 12.
“We can see that in the pharmacy, a person comes in looking paracetamol for their son, then more for their spouse, then their mothers and so on.”
Mr Hughes continued, “This year the virus has been spreading so fast and the symptoms have been violent.
“So many people are looking to get a vaccine because of how rampant it is, but stocks have been out since November and there’s no sign yet of when they’ll be available.
“People can still get a vaccine under the NHS, but only if they are eligible.
“The most important thing to do is to stay home and stop the spread.”
