Man treated in 'probable' first case of swine flu
The adult male visited his GP on the day of his return from Mexico and is currently at home, where he is being checked by medical staff at least twice a day and taking the anti- retro viral drug, Tamiflu.
Health officials said the case was probably that of the renamed Influenza H1N1 strain, and anyone the man has been in close contact with has been asked to undertake voluntary quarantine in their homes for seven days and take medication for 10.
The news comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised its pandemic alert to five, the second-highest level, and as 13 countries around the world confirmed cases.
At a press briefing last night Department of Health and HSE officials in charge of managing any possible swine flu outbreak said the man had taken a flight home from Mexico, via a stopover in another country. On his return he began to feel unwell and visited his GP, who immediately provided Tamiflu. He is said to be “quite well” and health officials confirmed that he did not go back to work on his return from Mexico.
The results of final tests that will confirm whether the man has swine flu are being checked both here and in Britain, but Prof Bill Hall, chairman of the National Pandemic Influenza Group said: “This is a probable case that is likely to be positive.”
Dr Darina Flanagan of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre said steps were being taken to clarify the nature of the contacts the man had en route to Ireland and on arrival here, although she said it is likely he had few contacts since the symptoms became apparent.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, Head of Health Protection in the HSE, said plans to ensure the public was fully aware of the risk of pandemic would be stepped up in light of the probability of a confirmed case.
The Department of Health’s chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said people should take precautions to avoid spreading infections, such as using a tissue if coughing and sneezing with cold-like symptoms and then disposing of it properly, and also washing their hands.
He also said that more cases were likely. “We certainly expect it. We are very prepared for what might happen.”
Minister for Health Mary Harney, in Luxembourg for an emergency meeting of EU health ministers, said a public information campaign, including a health plan, will be rolled out whenever health professionals believe the time is right.
“We hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. There will be several cases, we expect, as there are 1,000 Irish people on holiday in Mexico at any one time and 300 Irish people living in Mexico. In the event of there being a pandemic and a large number of cases, I believe people will apply their skills to the task at hand.”
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly said there was a certain level of inevitability about a confirmed case being detected here, adding: “The important thing now is to try to isolate this case and to be prepared for any further cases.”
Elsewhere, biochemist Prof Luke O’Neill of Trinity College Dublin said the swine flu virus was unique in that younger people seemed to be particularly susceptible to the H1N1 strain.
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