Swine flu outbreak claims 13 lives in the North

THE number of swine flu related deaths in Northern Ireland has reached 13 as the number of people in the Republic infected with the H1N1 virus continues to grow.

Yesterday the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland confirmed 13 people had died since the onset of the annual flu season in November. Nine of the deceased had underlying health conditions. Those who died ranged from children to pensioners.

Here, the Department of Health has reported a doubling of human swine flu cases in the past week.