Byrner
10-22-2009, 11:05 PM
Four people with swine flu have died in the Irish Republic this week as new cases almost doubled, it was announced tonight.
Health chiefs also revealed another 14 patients stricken with the H1N1 virus are fighting for their lives in intensive care units – half of those being admitted just last week.
The two women and two men who died since Sunday – like the previous four victims – were all suffering from underlying medical conditions, according to the Department of Health and Children.
All were from the east of the country except one of the men, who was from the south.
In its latest update on the pandemic, the department said GPs are now taking 7,000 new cases a week as they prepare to administer vaccinations to at-risk groups on November 2.
Dr Colette Bonner, deputy chief medical officer, said flu-like illness rates were now higher than at any time on record and that cases are expected to rise further in the coming weeks.
But she added: “It must be kept in perspective, however, as it should be remembered that swine flu is a mild illness for most people and can be treated at home.”
Rates of flu-like sickness soared to 158.8 per 100,000 of the population from 97.1 per 100,000 last week.
Dr Bonner warned that pregnant women are four times more likely to develop serious complications – such as premature labour or pneumonia – or be hospitalised with swine flu than women who are not pregnant.
It is recommended that all women after 14 weeks of pregnancy to six weeks after birth should be vaccinated.
Women less than 14 weeks pregnant and who have at-risk medical conditions should also get the vaccine, she said.
Of the 71 people presently being treated in hospital for swine flu, 43% have underlying chronic medical conditions while three quarters are aged under 35.
In the North and Britain, pandemic vaccinations began yesterday with healthcare workers and at-risk patients in hospitals.
Eight people suffering from swine flu have died in the North, while there have been 93 deaths in England, 21 in Scotland and six in Wales.
Around 1,800 GPs in the Republic have agreed to administer the vaccine, but it could be two weeks before all doctors are supplied.
Around 400,000 people in high-risk groups will get the first round of the medication, including pregnant women and people with chronic illness aged between six months and 65 years.
On August 7 cystic fibrosis sufferer Darina Calpin, 18, from Templeboy, Co Sligo, died in hospital after being diagnosed with the virus.
Within weeks Dublin bank official Billy Graham became the country’s second swine flu victim. The 55-year-old, from Castleknock, had no apparent health problems.
And late last month two women – one from the west and one from the east of the country and both with underlying medical conditions – died within a week of each other.
However, medics have maintained that the virus is mild in the majority of cases.
Source: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/four-new-swine-flu-deaths-as-cases-double-431272.html#ixzz0UhlAAYR4
Health chiefs also revealed another 14 patients stricken with the H1N1 virus are fighting for their lives in intensive care units – half of those being admitted just last week.
The two women and two men who died since Sunday – like the previous four victims – were all suffering from underlying medical conditions, according to the Department of Health and Children.
All were from the east of the country except one of the men, who was from the south.
In its latest update on the pandemic, the department said GPs are now taking 7,000 new cases a week as they prepare to administer vaccinations to at-risk groups on November 2.
Dr Colette Bonner, deputy chief medical officer, said flu-like illness rates were now higher than at any time on record and that cases are expected to rise further in the coming weeks.
But she added: “It must be kept in perspective, however, as it should be remembered that swine flu is a mild illness for most people and can be treated at home.”
Rates of flu-like sickness soared to 158.8 per 100,000 of the population from 97.1 per 100,000 last week.
Dr Bonner warned that pregnant women are four times more likely to develop serious complications – such as premature labour or pneumonia – or be hospitalised with swine flu than women who are not pregnant.
It is recommended that all women after 14 weeks of pregnancy to six weeks after birth should be vaccinated.
Women less than 14 weeks pregnant and who have at-risk medical conditions should also get the vaccine, she said.
Of the 71 people presently being treated in hospital for swine flu, 43% have underlying chronic medical conditions while three quarters are aged under 35.
In the North and Britain, pandemic vaccinations began yesterday with healthcare workers and at-risk patients in hospitals.
Eight people suffering from swine flu have died in the North, while there have been 93 deaths in England, 21 in Scotland and six in Wales.
Around 1,800 GPs in the Republic have agreed to administer the vaccine, but it could be two weeks before all doctors are supplied.
Around 400,000 people in high-risk groups will get the first round of the medication, including pregnant women and people with chronic illness aged between six months and 65 years.
On August 7 cystic fibrosis sufferer Darina Calpin, 18, from Templeboy, Co Sligo, died in hospital after being diagnosed with the virus.
Within weeks Dublin bank official Billy Graham became the country’s second swine flu victim. The 55-year-old, from Castleknock, had no apparent health problems.
And late last month two women – one from the west and one from the east of the country and both with underlying medical conditions – died within a week of each other.
However, medics have maintained that the virus is mild in the majority of cases.
Source: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/four-new-swine-flu-deaths-as-cases-double-431272.html#ixzz0UhlAAYR4