Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=16003
No risk factor in half flu hospitalisations
[Posted: Thu 20/08/2009 by Joanne McCarthy]
More than half of people in hospital with swine flu have not had underlying health conditions or been in a higher risk group, according to the Department of Health.
Of the 62 people who have been admitted to hospital in Ireland since the outbreak began, 46% had underlying risk factors. The remaining 54% did not fall into the high risk categories.
The news comes amid media reports that the second person to die from swine flu in Ireland did not have an underlying health condition.
The Department also confirmed that the number of swine flu cases in Ireland is increasing, with 1,800 new cases having been diagnosed in the last week, and a total of 619 laboratory cases having been confirmed.
At present, there are 19 people in hospital with swine flu, four of whom are currently in intensive care.
However, the Department stressed that the disease is not becoming more severe. It said that the numbers of swine flu cases in many countries have plateaued, and that appears to be the case in Ireland to an extent, but it does anticipate an increase in cases in the autumn.
Dr Pat Doorley, National Director of Population Health with the HSE, said that that HSE would be strongly urging everybody in the population to get the vaccine when it becomes available to them. The groups that will be prioritised will be healthcare workers, those with underlying risk factors and schoolchildren.
Dr Doorley said that the vaccine will be licensed and approved by the European Medicines Agency and the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) before it is administered. He stressed that testing of the vaccine would be very stringent.
No risk factor in half flu hospitalisations
[Posted: Thu 20/08/2009 by Joanne McCarthy]
More than half of people in hospital with swine flu have not had underlying health conditions or been in a higher risk group, according to the Department of Health.
Of the 62 people who have been admitted to hospital in Ireland since the outbreak began, 46% had underlying risk factors. The remaining 54% did not fall into the high risk categories.
The news comes amid media reports that the second person to die from swine flu in Ireland did not have an underlying health condition.
The Department also confirmed that the number of swine flu cases in Ireland is increasing, with 1,800 new cases having been diagnosed in the last week, and a total of 619 laboratory cases having been confirmed.
At present, there are 19 people in hospital with swine flu, four of whom are currently in intensive care.
However, the Department stressed that the disease is not becoming more severe. It said that the numbers of swine flu cases in many countries have plateaued, and that appears to be the case in Ireland to an extent, but it does anticipate an increase in cases in the autumn.
Dr Pat Doorley, National Director of Population Health with the HSE, said that that HSE would be strongly urging everybody in the population to get the vaccine when it becomes available to them. The groups that will be prioritised will be healthcare workers, those with underlying risk factors and schoolchildren.
Dr Doorley said that the vaccine will be licensed and approved by the European Medicines Agency and the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) before it is administered. He stressed that testing of the vaccine would be very stringent.