Fourth case of swine flu confirmed
The man, who has not been identified, is from the south of the country and is aware of the confirmed test result.
The Department of Health’s chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said the man was being treated at home and all necessary public health precautions were being taken.
Dr Holohan said the newest case of influenza type-A (H1N1) was unconnected with the three previous cases confirmed in Ireland and has warned that more cases were anticipated.
The first case of swine flu was confirmed in Ireland in early May.
Both the department and the HSE have again reminded people of the measures that can be taken to help protect against contracting the virus.
People who have visited an affected area and become ill with flu-like symptoms are being urged to make initial contact with their GP by telephone and not present at a doctor’s surgery or accident and emergency unit.
According to the latest update from the World Health Organisation, there have been more than 15,500 cases and 99 deaths from the virus, with 4,910 cases and 85 deaths reported in Mexico.
There have been 229 cases of swine flu confirmed in Britain and Northern Ireland.
British scientists have produced a strain of the swine flu virus that is more suitable for making a vaccine.
It usually takes a minimum of between four to six months to develop a vaccine.
The development has been described by the country’s health authority as a “crucial step” towards the large-scale production of a vaccine against the disease.
The virus strain had been developed at Britain’s Health Protection Agency’s National Institute for Biological Standards and Control and is being made available to drug manufacturers and other flu laboratories worldwide.
Ireland has placed a number of contracts to ensure the country will have enough vaccine in the event of a pandemic.
Under the WHO’s alert system on a developing flu pandemic, phase six is the highest level.
World renowned virologist, Prof Albert Osterhaus, has warned to expect the unexpected with swine flu, stressing that the H1N1 threat was a serious one.
He said the three cornerstones of medical preparedness were good surveillance and diagnostics; effective treatment/antiviral therapy and vaccination, the foundation of prevention.
Chairman of Ireland’s National Influenza Expert Group, Prof Bill Hall, said the flu virus was unpredictable and monitoring it very closely was the only way they could deal with it.
Dr Holohan said they were anticipating that the alert system would eventually be raised to its highest level and were prepared for that event.
The HSE recently arranged for the delivery of information leaflets on the virus to households and businesses throughout the country. Further information is available on www.dohc.ie or www.HSE.ie.
