The first official case of winter flu virus this year has been identified, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has confirmed.
Influenza has been detected slightly earlier this year than last year's flu season, when the first case was reported in November 2006.
A total of 126 laboratory confirmed cases of influenza were detected during the 2006/2007 season, peaking in February 2007.
Dr Derval Igoe, a specialist in public health medicine with the HPSC, said the identification of the first flu case is a reminder to all people in high-risk groups to get vaccinated against the virus.
These include over 65s and people with severe illness such as chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes, as well as health care workers and carers of those in risk groups.
"The symptoms of influenza infection usually develop over a matter of a few hours and include a high temperature, sore muscles, dry cough, headache and sore throat. This is different from the common cold, which tends to come on more gradually and usually includes a runny nose and a normal temperature," Dr Igoe said.
The virus was confirmed by the National Virus Reference Laboratory based on reports from the network of 49 GPs who report weekly on the number of patients with influenza-like illness.