Second Irish Swine Flu Victim Dies

A unnamed man has become the second person to die in Ireland after contracting human swine flu.

Just a week after the funeral of Northern Ireland's first victim, a TA soldier who contracted the disease in England, another death has occurred in the Irish Republic. The victim was from the east coast and it is believed that he contracted the influenza virus from another person in Ireland.

The family has asked that no further details be released.

However, it is understood the victim did not have an apparent underlying health condition, as has been the case in most other deaths.

The Republic's Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Minister for Health Mary Harney have offered their sympathy to the family and friends of the victim.

Previously, an 18 year-old woman from Sligo died from the virus at Tallaght Hospital. She had an underlying medical condition.

The HSE says around 1,400 people a week are presenting to their GPs with flu-like illnesses. Some 50 people have been hospitalised to date.

There have also been outbreaks at some colleges and around 50 people have been hospitalised.

See: NI Soldier Dies From Swine Flu

(BMcC/KMcA)