Woman’s death brings swine flu toll to 18

A WOMAN from the south of Ireland who had an underlying illness has died from swine flu, the Department of Health has confirmed.

There have been 18 deaths from the H1N1 virus in Ireland since the worldwide outbreak began in March. There are 181 people in hospital and 12 are in intensive care.

The number of infections continues to fall. The rate was 93.6 per 100,000 last week compared to 132 per 100,000 the previous week.

The department’s medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, warned the infection rate among young children remained high. Director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, Dr Darina O’Flanagan, said the rate of infection in children aged 0 to 4, at 227 per 100,000, was more than twice the rate in the overall population. She said it was important younger children got the vaccination.

Director of the Irish Medicines Board, Dr Joan Gilvarry, said at least 400,000 people had been vaccinated.