The HSE has said that it is "inevitable" that there will be some deaths from swine flu in Ireland in the future as the virus spreads.
Of the 156 confirmed cases of swine flu in Ireland so far, just 12 people have been hospitalised, the HSE’s national director of population health Dr Pat Doorley told RTÉ Radio today. All have recovered fully.
Dr Doorley said the H1N1 virus was “fairly” contagious, but all remedies were proving effective and there was “no reason for alarm or undue concern”. He said the HSE had no intention of banning large gatherings of people to halt the spread of the virus.
“Sadly, we could not say that there won’t be deaths here,” he said. “Just looking at the pattern in the UK, it is clear that we are going to have more cases and … inevitably, there will be some deaths.”
The HSE confirmed on Thursday that supplies of Tamiflu, which has proven effective in treating the H1N1 virus, had been sent to pharmacies around the country. Tamiflu is only available on prescription.
Dr Doorley warned that it should only be taken if it is prescribed by a doctor as Tamiflu can lead to side effects if not taken correctly.
“We have no switched over to a treatment phase, because the WHO (World Health Organisation) have advised it is no longer possible to contain the virus,” he said. “We are concentrating on identifying those people who are ill and are in high-risk groups.”
Earlier this week, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan predicted swine flu could infect one million people in the State as it spreads later in the year. The virus has killed about 430 people worldwide, the WHO says.