Death in south brings swine flu toll to 17
The male patient was suffering from an underlying health condition which increased his chances of succumbing to the infection.
A further 221 people remain in hospital with the virus, 18 of whom are being treated in intensive care.
However, despite the death, the latest joint HSE and Department of Health weekly update on the illness has indicated that infection rates are continuing to fall, suggesting the virus may be on the wane.
In the past seven days, the health authorities estimate that 15,000 people contracted swine flu across Ireland, the second week in a row the number of new infections has fallen.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has urged families to ensure their children are vaccinated from the virus, after warning of a low uptake of the available swine flu vaccine among children under the age of five.
According to the health authority, just one in four parents who had received letters of invitation for the vaccine have so far responded by bringing their child to a clinic.
To date, approximately 150,000 of the estimated 300,000 parents with children under the age of five have been issued with the vaccination request letters.
Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the department, said parents had a responsibility to provide their children with the best defence from a virus which has already taken a significant number of lives, both in Ireland and abroad.
“We are still seeing significant rates of infection in children which is of concern to us,” Dr Holohan said, noting that children are one of the most at risk groups for the infection.
“People are just not aware that the rates are still very high amongst children.”
Meanwhile, vaccinations are to begin in primary and secondary schools next week. The programme is expected to take two months to complete.
Dr Doorley said most children will be vaccinated in the school setting.
“Those who are attending small schools will be vaccinated either in bigger schools or, in a small number of cases, in mass vaccination clinics.”
