As autumn is in full swing, health experts have issued a warning due to the potential threat of a ‘tripledemic’ in Ireland, with cases of Covid, flu and RSV predicted to increase in the upcoming months.

In the past week, there were 541 new Covid cases reported across the country, a significant rise from the 480 reported the previous week. Health officials attribute this surge largely to the XFG variant, also known as Stratus, which now makes up 73% of all known infections in Ireland.

The latest data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) reveals that Dublin had the highest number of new cases last week with 127, followed by Limerick with 77 and Cork with 53. On the other end of the spectrum, Carlow reported no new infections, while Laois had 2 and Longford had 3. The World Health Organization has categorised Stratus as a “variant under monitoring”, noting that although it doesn’t seem to cause more severe illness, it spreads faster than previous strains – a trend mirrored in Ireland’s most recent Covid data.

Flu and RSV cases remain relatively low, with 24 flu infections reported last week – a decrease from 60 four weeks ago – and just 9 RSV cases, down from 17 the previous week, reports the Irish Mirror. As the three viruses continue to spread, health experts are urging people to get vaccinated.

Caoimhe McAuley, Director of Pharmacy and Superintendent Pharmacist at Boots, said: “The colder months bring a higher risk of viral illness, and vaccines provide protection to help you and those around you, stay well. Flu strains can change from year to year, which means last year’s vaccination may not protect you from this season’s flu strains. At Boots, we’re offering a comprehensive range of winter vaccination services as well as expert advice from our pharmacists to ensure our customers are well prepared for the season ahead.”

Currently, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee in Ireland recommends five vaccines for older adults. Covid, flu, and pneumococcal are fully funded, but shingles and RSV are not. Covid symptoms often mimic those of the flu or a cold, including fever, cough and fatigue, making it difficult to identify.

However, doctors say the most common early sign of the Stratus variant is a hoarse or raspy voice – a symptom that could help distinguish it from seasonal flu. Other early signs include sore throats, blocked noses, digestive issues and exhaustion.

Dr Nye told Mirror UK: “In most ways, it’s almost identical. However, people with this version tend to get very sore throats and a hoarse voice, compared with the other more general symptoms like cough, temperature and aches.”

Meanwhile, Dr Kader, who shares health advice on TikTok as @ask. doctor.k, added that the new variant often starts with ear, nose and throat symptoms before affecting the digestive system. He said: “Here’s what you need to know about the new Covid variant. It’s called Stratus or XFG, and actually the symptoms are a little bit different when compared to the previous variants.

“The new variant seems to be starting with ear, nose and throat symptoms, so most people are complaining about a really hoarse voice or a super sore throat. It also seems to present with more GI symptoms. A lot of people are complaining about nausea, vomiting, bloating [and] acid reflux.”

Whilst infections are often milder, Dr Kader cautioned that this variant is extremely transmissible, stating: “You may have noticed that everyone is getting sick this week, and we’ve seen a huge rise in Covid cases in hospital patients, and part of the reason why infections are spreading fast is because the weather is changing, it’s getting a bit colder, people are staying indoors more and just passing the bugs to each other.”

Ireland’s official Covid guidance remains unchanged. The HSE said: “If you have any symptoms of Covid and feel unwell, you should stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone, avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from Covid. You do not need a Covid test unless a GP or health professional tells you to.”

The HSE is reminding the public to be vigilant for all 18 recognised Covid symptoms, which include:

• fever (high temperature – 38C or above) – including having chills
• dry cough
• fatigue (tiredness)
• loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this could mean they’re completely gone or just different to normal
• nasal congestion (runny or blocked nose)
• conjunctivitis (also known as red eye or pink eye)
• sore throat
• headache
• muscle or joint pain (aches and pains)
• different types of skin rash
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhoea
• chills
• dizziness
• shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
• loss of appetite
• confusion
• pain or pressure in the chest

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It was a case for three times lucky for Dublin last night as Lotto players from the capital scooped a hat-trick of prizes.

The lucky punters won big on Friday’s Euromillions and Daily Million draws. Two Dublin players shared the €1 million Daily Million prize, walking away with a life changing €500,000 each from their Quick Pick tickets.

One ticket was bought at SuperValu Sundrive on Sundrive Road in Crumlin while the other was purchased online. On the Euromillions draw, a Quick Pick player who bought their ticket at Easons in Heuston Station matched five numbers to earn €15,830.

National Lottery spokesperson, Emma Monaghan, said: “It was an extraordinary evening for our Dublin players, with three significant wins across two draws. Two Daily Million winners shared the top prize amount scoring an incredible €500,000 each, while another player matched five numbers in the EuroMillions draw to take home €15,830.

“On top of that, the guaranteed EuroMillions jackpot of €130 million was won by a ticket holder in Belgium. We’re now encouraging all players to check their tickets carefully this morning – you could be sitting on a fortune.”

The winning numbers in last night’s 9pm Daily Million draw were: 4, 16, 23, 26, 27, 35 and the bonus was 12. The winning numbers in last night’s EuroMillions draw were: 4, 17, 25, 28, 44 and the two Lucky Stars were 5 and 11.

While an email notification has been sent to the online Daily Million prize winner, the other two winners are advised to sign the back of their tickets and to keep them safe. They should make contact with our prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made to collect their life-changing prizes in Lottery HQ.

Tonight’s Lotto jackpot is also heading for a whopping sum with an estimated jackpot if €4.8 million. The draw will take play at 8pm this evening.

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Ireland has been enjoying a stretch of settled weather recently, with glorious sunshine and pleasant temperatures treating the nation to an unexpected glimpse of early autumn warmth. Met Éireann say we’re in for something of an ‘Indian Summer’ over the next few days, with the mercury set to climb to nearly 20C in certain areas of the country despite the rain this morning.

But this balmy period isn’t set to stick around for long. The national weather service has taken the rare step of putting out an early alert for Hurricane Humberto, reports the Irish Mirror.

The colossal storm strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane yesterday, with projections from the US Hurricane Center showing it moving towards the Bahamas and Florida in the coming days before pivoting eastward across the Atlantic, possibly making a beeline for Ireland.

In a warning released this morning, Met Éireann warned: “The remnants of hurricane Humberto could move close to or over us.” Ireland’s weather forecaster seldom warns about tropical storms before they’ve completely traversed the Atlantic, making this alert particularly extraordinary.

The national forecaster warned the potential for bad weather next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It said: “While there’s a good deal of uncertainty in the detail, due to the presence of what will be ex-hurricane Humberto at this stage in the Atlantic, it’s likely to turn more unsettled generally on Friday, with a band of heavy rain spreading eastwards for a time.

“Our weather will continue changeable next weekend with some drier spells but with the chance of some heavy rain and strong winds at times, as the remnants of hurricane Humberto move close to or over us.”

Before Humberto’s remains potentially impact Ireland, the nation can anticipate a short period of gentler, more stable weather.

Met Éireann stated: “The week ahead will be mild with mixed conditions. While high pressure will remain close by for a time, weather fronts will move in from the Atlantic occasionally, bringing some rain and drizzle at times, especially to the west and north, with the best of the drier weather to the east and south. It’s likely to turn generally more unsettled and changeable later in the week and next weekend.”

Providing a day-by-day forecast for the remainder of this weekend and early next week, it stated: “It’ll be a wet morning Saturday to begin across the eastern half of the country, with some heavy rain continuing to spread eastwards, leading to some spot flooding, especially in the northeast. A brighter start further west with sunshine and well scattered showers and with those conditions continuing to extend elsewhere through the morning and afternoon, as the rain clears eastwards. However, the rain will be slow to clear the northeast, with further heavy falls likely to continue there into the early evening. Highest temperatures of 13C to 16C or 17C in mostly light to moderate west to northwest winds, moderate to fresh southerly in the east and northeast for a time.

“The band of showers will quickly clear from eastern parts early Sunday morning. The rest of the day will be mainly dry with sunshine, though with a few well scattered showers developing. Highest temperatures of 13C to 17C in light westerly or variable breezes.

“The mist and fog will clear on Monday morning and while it’ll be a mainly dry day for most, there’ll be a little patchy light rain and drizzle at times in the west and northwest, especially later in the day. While there’ll be a good deal of cloud, there’ll be some bright or hazy sunny spells too, mainly in the midlands, east and south. Highest temperatures of 14C to 17C in mostly light to moderate south to southwest winds, fresher in western and northwestern coastal parts.

“Tuesday will bring a good lot of cloud with scattered outbreaks of light rain and drizzle, along with areas of mist and hill fog. A few limited bright or sunny spells are likely. A mild day with highest temperatures of 15C to 18C or 19C in mostly moderate southerly winds.

“Another fairly cloudy day generally on Wednesday and while there’ll be a little patchy light rain and drizzle to begin, it’ll become dry in most areas through the morning. A few bright or sunny spells are likely, mainly in the south and east. There’ll probably be further scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle though in parts of the west and northwest. Highest temperatures of 15C to 18C in mostly moderate southerly winds, fresh to strong in coastal parts of the west and northwest.

“Mostly cloudy Thursday with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, heavy at times in the west and north. Drier in the east and south. Highest temperatures of 15C to 18C or 19C in mostly moderate southerly winds, fresh to strong along the west coast.”

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