Re: Second Death Reported in Ireland
Military camp is the latest swine flu casualty
By Jason O'Brien and Louise Hogan
Independent.ie
Tuesday August 18 2009
AN ADULT male yesterday became the second person in Ireland to die from human swine flu.
The man died yesterday evening in the eastern region of the country, the HSE confirmed late last night.
The Health Service Executive released a brief statement shortly after 11pm last night confirming the death.
It added that the family of the deceased has requested that no details should be released in relation to their family member.
"The HSE wishes to advise that a person, who was earlier diagnosed with Influenza A (H1N1), died this evening in the Eastern Region," said Paul Connors, HSE director of communications.
"The family has requested that no details should be released in relation to the deceased and the HSE and DOHC intends to respect their wishes.
"The Health Services Executive, Ms Mary Harney TD, Minister for Health and Children and the Department offer their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased."
It is understood that the man had other medical problems as well as the H1N1 virus, but health officials would not confirm this last night.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "This death has only happened in recent hours. We can only confirm that an adult male has died."
On August 7, 18-year-old Darina Calpin died from complications related to the virus at Tallaght Hospital.
She had suffered from Cystic Fibrosis, and was the first person to die from the H1N1 virus here since the first cases emerged in this country in May.
Earlier yesterday the Defence Forces were forced to shut down a training camp amid fears of sparking a swine flu outbreak.
Army chiefs abandoned plans for a week-long event for 240 reservists at their Glen of Imaal base in the Wicklow mountains over concerns about the spread of the disease.
Three Irish colleges in west Donegal were also hit by the flu, while a number of Italian teenagers attending a course in Galway were quarantined last week.
A female Army reservist from the 65th Reserve Infantry Battalion was struck down with symptoms of the H1N1 virus shortly after arriving at the training camp last Friday.
She was rushed to Naas General Hospital, where her symptoms were confirmed as swine flu on Sunday.
A second female member of the unit, which trains on a part-time basis, also began showing signs of the virus on Sunday. She was discharged from hospital overnight, and it is not yet known whether she tested positive.
"The whole training camp has been cancelled," an Army spokesman said. The Defence Forces has closely followed the advice of the Health Services Executive, while its own medical staff also attended Coolmoney Camp, Co Wicklow.
Meanwhile, more than 100 Italian students whose trip to Ireland to learn English was hampered by an outbreak of swine flu will fly home today.
Quarantined
Three of the students attending the summer language course were quarantined in their hostel accommodation in Galway for a week after they were confirmed to have swine flu on Tuesday, August 11.
The summer language course, part-funded by the Italian government, was being run by English-language company MLI International on the campus of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.
Niall O'Riordain, academic director of MLI, said the symptoms were mild and none of the affected students required the anti-viral medication Tamiflu. The classes were suspended and the affected students had stayed in protective quarantine, as per HSE advice, after the cases were identified.
New figures are currently being compiled on the number of people hospitalised as a result of the H1N1 virus last week. HSE experts are keeping a close watch on the progress of the virus as the traditional winter flu season approaches.
The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland will this week write to 1,900 members and their families to inform them of guidelines drawn up for the group, as people with lung problems are considered at greater risk from swine flu.
Fatality
A young woman with CF was the only fatality from swine flu in the State so far.
Meanwhile, the Irish Preschool Play Association (IPPA) has urged parents worried about swine flu to talk to their pre-school leader as the new term begins.
"The health and safety of children is of the utmost importance to pre-school teachers, who will be on alert for symptoms of swine flu," said the IPPA's Irene Gunning.
Also yesterday, Diageo confirmed that it had offered its 2,000 Irish employees Tamiflu as part of its general influenza planning. A number have stored it, on their GPs' advice, for use if they develop symptoms. It is understood the process was put in place before the swine flu pandemic.
BBC presenter Colin Murray yesterday spoke of abandoning his debut sports programme on Radio 5 Live after he was struck down with swine flu.
Mr Murray, from Dundonald, near Belfast, spent the past couple of months taking a self-imposed break following his departure from BBC Radio 1 -- only to fall ill four days before the inaugural show.
The 32-year-old was confined to his home in Essex and his former Radio 1 colleague Mark Chapman was forced to step in while he recuperated.
Mr Murray yesterday said that he was disappointed 'Kicking Off With Colin Murray' did not kick off with him as planned last week. "I should be back at work over the next few days, hopefully," he added.
- Jason O'Brien and Louise Hogan
