Second Irish swine flu death

A second Irish person with the swine flu virus has died, it was confirmed today.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said the family of the victim requested that no further details be released.

The person, who lived on the east coast and was earlier diagnosed with Influenza A(H1N1), died last night.

“The family has requested that no details should be released in relation to the deceased and the HSE and Department of Health and Children intends to respect their wishes,” said a HSE spokesman.

Ireland’s first victim, 18-year-old Darina Calpin, who was suffering from cystic fibrosis when she contracted the bug, died on August 7.

Dr Kevin Kelleher, the HSE's head of health protection, said he could not disclose whether the person had any underlying health problems because of the family's request for privacy.

But he confirmed the victim was being treated in hospital at the time of their death.

The senior health chief said there were about 1,300 to 1,400 cases of mild to moderate flu every week, while up to 70% of all swine flu cases were contracted within the country.

“What we are waiting to see, like the rest of the world, is what will happen in the autumn and winter,” he said.

“We have clearly seen very large surges of the disease in south America, Australia and New Zealand so we have to wait and see.”