Visitor restrictions are in place in two hospitals due to an increase in the number of people presenting with flu and respiratory symptoms.
Sligo University Hospital (SUH) and Tipperary University Hospital (TUH) are both experiencing high levels of the disease within the hospitals.
The restrictions at the hospital in Clonmel will remain in place until further notice.
HSE Dublin and South East has said the number of patients presenting with flu and respiratory symptoms has increased.
The hospital also has patients presenting with the so-called winter vomiting bug, Norovirus.
The HSE said visitors at TUH will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances by arrangement with the clinical nurse manager or the nurse in charge.
However, a spokesperson said visiting on compassionate grounds will be facilitated for critically ill and end-of-life patients.
Hospital management and staff have apologised for any inconvenience caused and have thanked people for their co-operation and understanding.
They add that they want to assure people that these actions are being undertaken to protect vulnerable patients and limit the spread of infection.
People asked not to attend Sligo University Hospital
Sligo University Hospital is appealing to people with flu-like symptoms not to visit the hospital due to a sharp increase in cases.
SUH is treating 27 patients with flu as it deals with a flu outbreak in two separate wards.
The hospital said a particularly high number of older people and children with flu-like symptoms have been attending the Emergency Department.
Since the start of this year's flu season, 80 people have been hospitalised in Sligo including 20 people last week.
Almost 200 flu cases have been confirmed in Sligo through laboratory testing since the start of the flu season, including 56 cases last week.
In a statement, SUH said it has introduced visiting restrictions as a necessary infection control measure.
The hospital said visiting should only be considered for direct family and children should not be brought to visit on adult wards.
It said where a ward is managing a flu outbreak, visiting will be limited to compassionate grounds only.
Visiting is permitted between 6-8pm each day and visiting outside these hours will be facilitated in exceptional circumstances.
Symptoms of flu include a high temperature, aches and pains, headache, sore throat or cough.
The hospital said that it regretted the impact these restrictions, however, it added they needed to do everything possible to control the spread of infection.
The HSE has again, urged eligible people to get vaccinated against flu and Covid as they said it can stop infection and prevent transmission to vulnerable people.
The moves by TUH and SUH follows visitor limitations that have already been put in place at Wexford General Hospital, and also increased infection control measures introduced at St Luke's General Hospital, Carlow/Kilkenny.
