HSE: Full potential of swine flu outbreak unknown

Health authorities have said the full potential of the swine flu outbreak won't be clear until more cases develop outside of Mexico.

The HSE said, although the flu appears to be mild outside of Mexico itself, it is not yet clear how it will affect different sections of the population, such as elderly people and the very young.

So far there has been only one case confirmed in Ireland, after a man in his mid-twenties in the east of the country tested positive for the virus.

In Europe, there are 49 cases confirmed so far.

Chairman of the pandemic influenza expert group, Professor Bill Hall, said the situation is still subject to almost daily changes.