Many people across Ireland are currently ill with Covid-like symptoms, yet testing negative for the virus.
There's been lots of anecdotal reports of people experiencing fever, a cough, fatigue and other typical coronavirus symptoms but antigen and PCR tests are showing negative for the virus. Currently, it seems like everyone is saying they know someone who is sick.
However, this is all word-of-mouth, so to get to the bottom of what is going on we looked at the latest Irish data available, while spoke to a local GP.
The 'super cold'
This term came to light at the end of 2021 to describe people with Covid-like symptoms who continue to test negative for the virus. It's currently getting a lot of use in Australia, where health experts there are reporting more respiratory illnesses as the country opens up from lockdown.
GP at Sloan Medical Centre in Sheffield, Dr Ollie Hart, explained what the 'super cold' is.
READ MORE: Full lockdown only way to suppress Ireland's Covid spike but Stephen Donnelly rules out restrictions
"In our practice, I think we have seen an increase in people coming in with flu or cold-like symptoms. It's felt like more than usual for this time of year and there seems to be quite a high occurrence.
"But my gut feeling is that this is coming from people mixing with no barriers again. People are mixing and spreading bugs they haven't for a while. We've been protected from that over the past few years and our immune systems aren't quite used to it.
"We're seeing the usual range of symptoms - sore throats, runny noses, coughs, diarrhoea, it's just almost concentrated at the moment now everyone is mixing with no restrictions," he said.
Dr Ollie advised anyone with those symptoms to go to their pharmacist first before the doctors, and to take time off and recover if needed.
He also said that people "shouldn't panic".
"People shouldn't panic. We have almost forgotten what it's like to have an ordinary cough or cold that's not Covid.
"If you are clinically vulnerable or have a chronic health condition you should take a bit more care but for most people, we need to remember common sense about managing ordinary day-to-day illnesses. This is a normal part of life.
"There isn't a plague running around. Having simple bugs is an ordinary fact of life," he added.
Flu
Ireland's Health Surveillance Protection Centre publishes regular reports on the incidence of both influenza and Covid.
Its latest report, published March 24, said that "flu activity in Ireland remains high" and that it is "widespread with confirmed influenza cases notified in all areas".
It advised anyone in at risk groups to get vaccinated against influenza.
192 confirmed influenza cases were notified during the most recent week. The median age of the notified cases in the past week was 36 and of the 192 cases, 45 (23.4 %) were reported as hospital inpatients, with a median age of 40 years.
The overall influenza positivity rate reported from the National Virus Reference Laboratory is 7.6% for the most recent week and was 21.8% for week 10 compared to 18.8% during week 9 2022.
However, the report notes that the data should be interpreted with caution due to the short reporting week (St Patrick's Day and the double bank holiday weekend).
Norovirus
Norovirus is another bug doing the rounds in Ireland at the moment. According to the HSE: "Norovirus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, is one of the most common stomach bugs in Ireland. It's also called the winter vomiting bug. This is because it's more common in winter, although you can catch it at any time of the year.
"Norovirus can be unpleasant but it usually clears up by itself in a few days. You can normally look after yourself or your child at home. Try to avoid going to your GP, as norovirus can spread to others very easily."
The lists the symptoms as feeling sick, being sick (vomiting) and diarrhoea, while some people also have a slight fever, headaches, painful stomach cramps and aching limbs.
Covid-19
Covid is still very much here and cases are increasing. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly last night fold Fianna Fail members that the true number of cases in the community is likely to be several hundred thousands.
Minister Donnelly told the meeting that the current transmissibility of the variant meant that extremely restrictive measures would be needed but the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan has not advised such restrictions at this time.
Almost 12,000 new Covid cases were confirmed in Ireland on Monday. Officials reported 5,263 positive PCR tests and 6,466 positive antigen tests.
There were 1,624 patients in hospital with Covid - a rise of 56 on Sunday - and of those, 54 were in ICU.
READ MORE: Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Stephen Donnelly update on Covid amid calls for new restrictions
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