US tourist treated for swine flu

A US national is being treated for suspected swine flu at Roscommon County Hospital, the Health Service Executive confirmed today.

The man, who is in his 70s, is understood to have been visiting the area when he was admitted to hospital on Saturday after presenting with cardiac symptoms.

The HSE said the man, who is the twelfth person to fall victim to the influenza type A H1N1 virus in the Republic, was being regarded as a “probable case” of the virus.

“A positive result was obtained from the patient and the sample has been sent to the United Kingdom for confirmation,” the HSE said.

The patient is being treated in isolation with the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

The HSE also said the small number of hospital staff and other patients who were in contact with him are also being followed up and treated with Tamiflu if appropriate.

The head of the World Health Organisation will consult governments today about changing the international alert on the swine flu outbreak.

WHO director-general Margaret Chan said she believed the spread may have reached pandemic level and would be consulting governments before making a formal announcement.

She said: “Once I get indisputable evidence, I will make the announcement.”

Additional reporting by PA