Officials move to calm flu fears

Health officials moved to reassure members of the Irish public this evening in the wake of the WHO’s revision of the swine-flu outbreak to pandemic proportions.

The World Health Organisation made the announcement this afternoon following a meeting of its top scientists in Geneva.

It means the H1N1 virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world, with the alert level now raised to its highest level of six

Speaking at Government Buildings, the HSE’s Dr Kevin Kelleher said the conditions of the 12 people in Ireland affected by virus gave him no cause for alarm.

“All of the 12 people concerned to date have had relatively a mild disease - the majority are actually out of their treatment phase and are just like you and I,” Dr Kelleher said.

“Some of them are still in their treatment phase but are well and everything - they're being looked after by their individual physicians and nobody's raised any issues with us about any problems.”

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health & Children said in a statement: "People in Ireland can be reassured that there is no increase in the risk to them.

"Irish cases are low in number and are regarded as mild. The Department and the HSE are satisfied that the actions we are taking are proportionate in the current circumstances but contingency plans are in place, if required.

"However, again, we would like to remind people to help themselves avoid infection through personal health protection measures, including washing their hands thoroughly and sneezing into a tissue and disposing of it immediately."