11 new cases of swine flu confirmed

Eleven new cases of swine flu were confirmed in the State over the weekend, including two further cases in which the virus was…

Eleven new cases of swine flu were confirmed in the State over the weekend, including two further cases in which the virus was transmitted within the country.

The new figures from the Department of Health this morning show the total number of cases of influenza A(H1N1) which have now been confirmed in the Republic has risen to 74. The total number of so called "in country transmissions" to date has been six.

The Department of Health confirmed the latest two cases transmitted within the State were in individuals who had been in close contact with previously confirmed cases.

It advises anyone who develops a flu-like illness after having visited a swine flu affected area in the seven days prior to becoming ill or have been in contact with a known case of influenza A(H1N1), to contact their GP or family doctor by telephone. They will decide if you need testing or treatment.

READ MORE

The symptoms are like those of regular seasonal flu and include: fever of sudden onset, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache and muscle aches. Some people have vomiting and diarrhoea.

Some 94,512 cases of swine flu and 429 deaths from the virus have now been reported to the World Health Organisation, which last week warned its spread was now "unstoppable".

Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, said on Friday that Ireland is well prepared for the pandemic relative to other European countries, with high stocks of antivirals and an arrangement to ensure people will have access to up to 7.7 million doses of vaccine once its production begins.

Britain is predicting it could see as many as 100,000 cases of swine flu a day by August. More than 7,000 cases have been reported there so far.

Most patients with the virus to date have had mild symptoms with deaths mainly among people with underlying medical conditions.