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Source: http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=16511
Another flu death and concern on children
[Posted: Fri 27/11/2009 by Niall Hunter, Editor]
There has been a futher death from swine flu, bringing the total to date to 17.
Meanwhile, although overall rates of infection continue to fall, there is growing concern at the high level of H1N1 infection among children.
The person who died was a male from the south of the country with an underlying health condition, the health authorities announced at their latest swine flu briefing.
Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said latest figures showed there had been a slight reduction in the swine flu rate in the community, which now stands at 126.9 per 100,000 population, compared to 134 last week.
The rate in children under five has fallen to 290 per 1200,000 from the previous figure of 399.
In five to 14-year olds, the rate is now 237.5 per 100,000, compared to 240 last week.
Dr Holohan said there is a significant rate of infection among children and this was of concern to the Department and the HSE.
He urged parents to ensure children are vaccinated as they are at risk.
The HSE has said it is concerned at a low uptake of the swine flu vaccination among children under five.
It said around 25 percent of parents who had received letters of invitation have responded by bringing their children to clinics for the vaccine.
So far, around 150,000 of the estimated 300,000 parents with children under five years have been issued with letters from the HSE.
A total of 221 people remain in hospital with the H1N1 virus, and 18 are in intensive care.
Another flu death and concern on children
[Posted: Fri 27/11/2009 by Niall Hunter, Editor]
There has been a futher death from swine flu, bringing the total to date to 17.
Meanwhile, although overall rates of infection continue to fall, there is growing concern at the high level of H1N1 infection among children.
The person who died was a male from the south of the country with an underlying health condition, the health authorities announced at their latest swine flu briefing.
Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said latest figures showed there had been a slight reduction in the swine flu rate in the community, which now stands at 126.9 per 100,000 population, compared to 134 last week.
The rate in children under five has fallen to 290 per 1200,000 from the previous figure of 399.
In five to 14-year olds, the rate is now 237.5 per 100,000, compared to 240 last week.
Dr Holohan said there is a significant rate of infection among children and this was of concern to the Department and the HSE.
He urged parents to ensure children are vaccinated as they are at risk.
The HSE has said it is concerned at a low uptake of the swine flu vaccination among children under five.
It said around 25 percent of parents who had received letters of invitation have responded by bringing their children to clinics for the vaccine.
So far, around 150,000 of the estimated 300,000 parents with children under five years have been issued with letters from the HSE.
A total of 221 people remain in hospital with the H1N1 virus, and 18 are in intensive care.