A young child who contracted swine flu has died in Northern Ireland of swine flu, it was announced today.
The toddler was under the age of three and lived in the south eastern part of the country.
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey expressed his sympathy to the family of the child, who died yesterday and was confirmed as having the virus. The exact cause of death is not yet known, he said.
It was the third swine flu-related death in Northern Ireland. A baby died last month but a pre-existing heart condition was determined as the cause of death.
In August the mother of two young children died. She had been fighting cancer for five years.
A soldier from Co Derry, who was based in the South of England, also contracted the virus and died in Surrey at the end of July.
Mr McGimpsey said he understood that parents of young children would be worried by the news of the latest death. But he said he could assure them that advice had been given to GPs who may be contacted by parents whose children have been in contact with the victim.
“Incidents of swine flu in Northern Ireland are continuing to rise and we must expect further increases in cases in the weeks ahead,” he warned. “Swine flu remains a major public health threat but we are well prepared and have been planning for a pandemic for some time.”
No further details of the child were being released by the Government.