Ireland declared free of swine flu

Health chiefs tonight confirmed the country is swine flu free after the only person to contract the virus was given the all-clear.

The Chief Medical Officer said the period of infection has expired for the man, who was diagnosed after he returned from a holiday in Mexico.

The patient – believed to be in his 20s and from the Dublin area – went into isolation last Thursday after attending his local doctor with flu-like symptoms.

Dr Tony Holohan said: “Currently we have no probable or confirmed cases in the country.”

The top medic revealed there were 1,527 confirmed cases worldwide, with 125 in Europe.

Meanwhile, four new cases of swine flu have been diagnosed in England, bringing the total number of UK cases to 32.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said the man with confirmed swine flu and anyone who had come into contact with him no longer need to be under its supervision.

Head of Health Protection Dr Kevin Kelleher said they are “able to go about their business as they so desire.”

“I would personally like to say thank you to the people concerned for the way they bore their illness over this period,” said Dr Kelleher.

“It’s not very easy for them in what is a worldwide situation to think they are part of that.”

Leaflet drops informing households about swine flu are being made around the country, – in which residents are warned to keep safe in case there is an outbreak of the virus.

Travel restrictions also stay in place for the foreseeable future, with officials advising people not to make non-essential travel to Mexico and to listen to local public health messages in any infected area.

Mr Holohan said the level of exposure in Ireland appeared to be lower as fewer people travelled to Mexico compared to other holiday destinations.

He added medics will continue to monitor and review the data on an international level to ensure they are prepared to move quickly if anything changes.