Nearly 8,000 vaccinations to fight influenza have been administered in Bermuda by the Department of Health and private practitioners.

A spokeswoman for The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) said: “Approximately 29 percent (over 2,300 doses) were administered in the Department of Health.”

Another 611 cases of “fever and respiratory illnesses” were logged. “In the months of October through December, there were 107 cases,” she added.

Gastroenteritis is also taking a toll when added to the list of issues as a result of the 2013/2014 flu season.

The medical condition of gastroenteritis or infectious diarrhoea is characterised by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms include a combination of diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and cramping.

Although unrelated to influenza it has also been called stomach flu and gastric flu.

While the figures compiled in recent weeks reflect nothing “out of the ordinary”, both ailments — the flu and the stomach bug — led sufferers to visit the hospital’s Emergency Ward for treatment.

A spokeswoman for King Edward VII Memorial Hospital said 12 people checked in with influenza for treatment, five in November and seven in December. Another 27 individuals were treated for gastroenteritis in November with one admitted for further treatment, and 33 were treated in December with two admissions. Ages range from one-year-old to 85 in the figures provided, including several children.

Efforts to gauge absenteeism due to the flu season in public schools were not provided.