First case of swine flu confirmed in Ireland

The first case of swine flu has been confirmed in this country in a person who recently returned from Mexico, health experts confirmed tonight.

The country’s Chief Medical Officer said laboratory test results, previously reported as probable influenza A (H1N1), have now been confirmed.

The patient, who has been taking anti-virus medication since he went to his GP with symptoms after returning from Mexico recently, remains quarantined in his home in the east of the country.

Dr Tony Holohan, of the Department of Health and Children, said the case was originally reported on April 30.

“All appropriate clinical and public health actions have been taken,” said Dr Holohan.

“The individual is recovering well.”

The positive result – the first on the island of Ireland – announced within hours of experts stating the probable case of swine flu had not been identified as lab tests could not detect the virus.

In the North, three suspect cases are currently under investigation while 26 have returned a negative result.

None have been positive.

There are more than 650 confirmed cases of swine flu worldwide, including 12 in England and three in Scotland.

Mr Holohan confirmed there are no further probable or confirmed cases in the Republic.

Medics also said no one in contact with the confirmed case has shown any symptoms, which are similar to regular seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache and muscle aches.

Professor Bill Hall, chair of Ireland’s National Pandemic Influenza Group, said despite fatal cases of swine flu in the US and Mexico it was a relatively mild disease here.

But he stressed it was inevitable that more cases will be diagnosed in the future.

“We do not know how easily it is spread or what group are more susceptible to it,” he added.

Gavin Maguire, assistant national director of emergency planning with the Health Service Executive (HSE), said enough anti-virus drugs were in stock to cover almost half the population.

He revealed national and regional crisis management meetings have been held around the country to ensure plans were in place and hundreds of thousands of information leaflets – which are available on line – are being printed and will be delivered to every household before the end of the week.

Meanwhile, more than 400 worried people have called a new freephone information line since it went live yesterday afternoon.

Prof Hall said although the National Virus Reference Laboratory in Dublin had not been able definitively confirm infection in the probable case - new tests (assays) are being developed to detect the bug and should be in place in the Dublin lab in the coming weeks.

Elsewhere, Stormont’s Health Minister Michael McGimpsey warned the public not to be alarmed about recent developments – but to be prepared for a potential pandemic.

“We have been planning for a situation like this for some years and are well prepared. We will continue to make preparations to help us respond in the event of a pandemic,” said Mr McGimpsey.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan also urged businesses to have a plan in place for a possible outbreak and relaunched a guide for bosses on her department’s website.

“Although the impact of the current influenza strain is as yet unclear, the potential risk posed to business by pandemic influenza is serious,” said the Tánaiste.

“An influenza pandemic would have a significant impact on economic activity and would pose a major threat to business continuity.”