The Health Service Executive has said that although the rate of flu infections this season has slowed, the outbreak may not yet have peaked.

29 deaths have now been directly ascribed to flu this winter, with 90% of those who died aged over 65.

In the past week 290 people were admitted to hospital, bringing the total this season to 835.

Of these, 30 patients remain in critical care units.

The HSE's Assistant National Director of Health Protection, Dr Kevin Kelleher, urged people to get the flu vaccine as the season is not over.

He said the rate of vaccine take-up in Ireland remains very low at around 13-15%.