80,000 flu deaths predicted in Europe

A MAJOR medical monitoring group has claimed 80,000 Europeans could die from swine flu in the coming months, naming Ireland as one of the EU’s hotspots for the deadly pandemic.

Figures released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that in recent weeks almost every country on the continent has seen a sharp rise in swine flu cases and hospitalisations.

Despite the widespread increase, the influential group singled out Ireland and Iceland as being worst affected by the pandemic and witnessing the highest intensity of swine flu diagnoses per head of population anywhere in the EU.