First ‘direct contact’ swine flu infection

TWO more cases of swine flu, including the first “direct contact” infection from another patient in Ireland, have been confirmed by health authorities.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said two women in the west and east of the country have become the latest Irish people to be infected by the highly virulent condition.

The cases, confirmed on Friday morning, bring the total number of infections in the country to nine – with five occurring in the past week alone.