Up to four people die as new outbreak of swine flu hits Ireland

Four people in Ireland are suspected to have died due to a new outbreak of swine flu, the HSE has confirmed.

The health service has identified four cases of a new strain of the H1N1 virus which causes swine flu. Dr Kevin Kelleher, HSE Assistant National Director for Public Health, told Independent.ie that two people were confirmed to have died as a result of the virus while two more deaths are expected to have occurred as a result of it. He said he expects to see more cases in the coming weeks.

"There are two types when we talk about this virus – A and B – this year we have the A strain which has a particular predilection for some people under 65,” Dr Kelleher said. “It has a predilection for people who have a previous medical condition like asthma or respiratory disease and for pregnant women. "What we see is people with diseases end up in ICU or on a ventilator."

Symptoms of the virus can include fever, coughing, a sore throat, a runny or stuffed nose, fatigue, body aches, headaches, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and watery, red eyes. In more serious cases it can lead to pneumonia. Anyone who shows symptoms should stay at home and contact their GP for advice, Dr Kelleher said on RTÉ Radio One today. "I know it's difficult not to let your child go to school, or not yourself go to work, but it is important if you've got these symptoms."