Nearly 900 patients are currently hospitalized in Ireland due to flu, marking a significant rise from the previous week. Health officials are urging the public to consider alternatives to hospital visits when experiencing mild symptoms. There is concern that emergency departments may face increased pressure during January. Dr. Colm Henry of the Health Service Executive emphasized the importance of self-care and the availability of local injury units. Meanwhile, GP Dr. Diarmuid Quinlan noted a 10% rise in out-of-hours patients compared to last year and encouraged vaccination to help combat the flu outbreak.