FOUR people at a special needs residential facility have been infected with swine flu, days after two children in a similar centre on the border died of the virus.

Some staff in special schools for Northern Ireland pupils with severe learning difficulties will be vaccinated for swine flu, the North's Health Minister announced today.

THE country’s three children’s hospitals have been forced to cancel all non-emergency admissions and restrict visitors to wards after becoming inundated with patients suffering from swine flu symptoms.