Forecasts that almost a third of people in Northern Ireland will contract swine flu should not be the cause of undue panic, Stormont’s health minister said today.
Michael McGimpsey said the majority of those who got the virus would only experience mild symptoms.
He said he was also confident the health service was prepared to deal with those whose condition became more serious.
"It's a fine line between people being complacent and being over worried," he said.
"We have to find the middle way. Most people who get this will experience symptoms similar to seasonal flu, other more severe cases we will look to deal with those."
The minister gave the reassurances after a meeting with health ministers from across the UK at a meeting of the Government's Cobra committee to discuss developments.
Thirty-three people, including three children, have been diagnosed with swine flue in Northern Ireland so far.
Mr McGimpsey said he had spent £55.3 million on measures to contain and treat the virus, and warned that the total could rise further.
The first batch of vaccines are due to be available in September to coincide with the predicted surge of cases after the summer.
The minister said the policy of giving anti-virals to everyone who came into contact with infected people would not continue. They would now only be given to people who actually display symptoms in order to preserve stock levels, he added.
"We currently have very high rates of swine flu in Scotland and England and effectively this is where Northern Ireland will go," Mr McGimpsey said after the Cobra briefing.
"We have done very well to contain the virus so far. But the public also have a role to play when it comes to issues like personal hygiene to try and to limit the spread."
Another case of swine flu was confirmed in Northern Ireland today.
the 34th case was diagnosed in a male contact of a person who returned from Mexico with the flu — thought to be the six-year-old boy whose illness caused the closure of St Ronan's Primary School in Newry, Co Down and where two more pupils have gone down with the virus.
A further 35 potential cases are currently under investigation by the Department of Health.
Meanwhile the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland cautioned against the throwing of "swine flu parties" in an attempt to get immunity against the virus while it is in a fairly mild form is not a good idea.
Dr Colin Hamilton, chairman of the public health committee of the BMA in the province said he had heard reports of people throwing such parties and said it was not a good idea.
He said: "I must stress that while the H1N1 virus is currently a mild flu, parents would still be putting their health and the health of their children at risk. People will still get ill and there is a risk of mortality."
The virus had only been known for two months and was still an unknown quantity, he said.
"The idea is having a flu party is the complete opposite to this advice. Apparently healthy young people have died in Mexico and the USA from this virus and many children may have conditions unknown to their parents, which would make them especially vulnerable," said Dr Hamilton.
PA