Swine flu virus claims four lives in past five days

FOUR people have died from swine flu in the past five days, and 14 more are fighting for their lives as infection rates from the H1N1 virus soar.

The Department of Health revealed last night that GPs are treating 7,000 new cases per week and the rate of infection has risen dramatically from 97.1 per 100,000 population to 158.8 per 100,000. Of the 14 patients in intensive care (ICU), half were admitted to hospital last week.

The two women and two men who have died since Sunday were all suffering from underlying medical conditions, according to the Department of Health. Three of the four were from the east of the country; one man was from the south. Swine flu has claimed eight lives in the Republic since August; seven victims had underlying medical conditions.

Dr Colette Bonner, the department’s deputy chief medical officer, said flu-like illness rates were now higher than at any time on record and cases are expected to rise further in the coming weeks. However, she added: “It must be kept in perspective, as it should be remembered that swine flu is a mild illness for most people and can be treated at home.”

Dr Bonner warned that pregnant women are four times more likely to develop serious complications – such as premature labour or pneumonia – or be hospitalised with swine flu than women who are not pregnant. A report in online publication Eurosurveillance, assessing the impact of swine flu in the southern hemisphere during their winter influenza season, found ICU admission rates in Australasia about nine times higher than expected for pregnant women.

Of the 71 people currently being treated in hospital for swine flu, 43% have underlying chronic medical conditions and three out of four are aged under 35.

Vaccination of high risk groups in the Republic is to begin on November 2.

Separately, the Health Service Executive Health Protection Surveillance Centre has urged parents to ensure children are protected against measles following an outbreak of the disease in the south, south-east and west of the country.

The outbreak is predominantly affecting young children and teenagers from the Traveller community.

Since January, 63 cases of measles have been notified nationally, 12 of whom were hospitalised, compared to 55 for all of 2008.