ANALYSIS:THE PROBABLE confirmation of the first case of H1N1 influenza A in the Republic is significant. But it is also reassuring to see the individual is well enough to be looked after at home, cared for by his GP and public health doctors.
So what are the implications for the rest of the population?
Essentially, the advice remains the same. If you develop flu-like symptoms and have recently been in one of the affected areas, then contact your GP by phone and you should be guided through a carefully planned process.
Unless you are very ill, you will be asked to stay indoors and take a course of Tamiflu tablets.
You will be given the same general medical advice you would expect if you contracted seasonal influenza – to rest, drink plenty of fluids and to take paracetamol.
Are face masks helpful? Not really. Despite the images we are seeing from Mexico, face masks have not been shown to reduce the spread of influenza.
Healthcare professionals are an exception; when they are treating potential and actual cases of the H1N1 virus they are asked to wear face masks and gloves.
The symptoms of H1N1 flu are: fever, muscle aches, headache, cough, runny nose, sore throat as well as a general feeling of malaise. Diarrhoea and vomiting may also occur.
Based on the behaviour of the flu strain to date, it is increasingly likely the bug is a mild one. It is beginning to look like a further genetic mutation would be needed for this H1N1 strain to cause widespread death.
However, we may see a rise in the number of cases of H1N1 infection if human to human spread among individuals who had not travelled to Mexico continues.
The fact that last winter’s flu virus was also a H1N1 strain may indicate that the Mexican strain is a relatively mild version.
More information is also emerging about the genetic make-up of the virus. US scientists say a preliminary analysis has shown a link between the Mexican strain of H1N1 and previously identified swine viruses from North America.
Two of the eight segments are linked with swine viruses isolated in Europe/Asia.
Many scientists around the world are working hard to discover quickly more about the virus’s characteristics.
Some commentators have asked if the issue has been unnecessarily hyped?
In fact the outbreak highlights how difficult it is to predict pandemic strains.
One clear benefit is that it has allowed the detailed pandemic plans to be stress-tested in a way that is likely to strengthen them for the future.
The dedicated HSE helpline is: 1850 241850.