Swine flu virus claims four lives in past five days
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.
