Tallaght swine flu death confirmed by health officials

A young woman has died from swine flu in the first reported Irish death south of the border, health officials confirmed tonight.

A young woman has died from swine flu in the first reported death in the Irish Republic, health officials confirmed tonight.

The woman from the west of the country, who died in Tallaght Hospital, south Dublin, had been suffering from a serious life-long underlying condition.

Health Minister Mary Harney and the country’s top health officials extended sympathies to the woman’s family and friends.

She was admitted on Monday, diagnosed and immediately put into an isolation ward where she died today at 3pm, the hospital said.

Dr Peter Greally, clinical director of paediatric services at Tallaght, had previously treated the young woman.

“They (the family) want to be able to grieve without interruption,” he said.

Tallaght Hospital said there were no concerns that any staff member was at increased risk from swine flu following the death.

Department of Health officials said the woman was the first person in the country to die from the H1N1 virus since the cases started to emerge in May.

The woman contracted the illness in the community.

John Devlin, deputy chief medical officer, said: “This comes as a major disappointment to everybody who has been planning to avoid such an eventuality.”

All her family, who have appealed for privacy, will be tested for the virus.

Pat Doorley, from the Health Service Executive (HSE), said: “It is a sad day and an unfortunate development in pandemic flu in Ireland.”

But the senior official also cautioned that most swine flu sufferers were not at serious risk and would recover.

“While it is a tragedy the public should be assured that in the vast majority of cases the flu virus causes mild to moderate illness,” Mr Doorley said.

“Most people will recover well at home looking after themselves, they will not even need to call a doctor.”

Only yesterday experts confirmed while the rate of infection had tripled to 37 per 100,000 last week, it had reduced this week to 32.5 per 100,000.

But medics warned while the number of new cases had dropped by 100, the figure will rise again in the coming weeks and months.

Michael Lyons, Tallaght Hospital chief executive, said: “The family are very, very traumatised and very anxious to have their privacy maintained.

“The condolences of the organisation are offered to them at this very tragic time.”

In a statement Tallaght hospital also said all national protocols have been followed.

“The hospital’s influenza pandemic flu committee have put in place all necessary measures to ensure both the safety of other patients and staff within the hospital,” the hospital said.

“The hospital has and continues to work in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children and the HSE in relation to the issue.”

To date some 27 people in Ireland have been admitted to hospital with the virus.

Officials said around 1,400 new cases of swine flu are emerging every week, with 70% involving people under the age of 30.

The majority are also believed to have contracted the virus in Ireland.