Wexford General Hospital has confirmed a number of cases of the strain of influenza responsible for the 2009 swine flu outbreak.
Three patients have been confirmed as having the H1N1 strain of flu. Meanwhile, two other patients have been tested and their results are awaited. A statement from the hospital today confirmed that all patients were stable and responding well to treatment.
The hospital's Clinical Director Dr Colm Quigley said that the current level of H1N1 cases was unusual but said "we do see this from time to time." He also pointed out that all of the cases being treated were the result of human-t0-human transmission and there was no cause for concern.
Healthy people would have no problem in dealing with this strain of flu and would often be treated at home. However, at risk groups such as pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems do require special attention.
The H1N1 virus known as 'swine flu' caused a worlwide pandemic in 2009 and it is estimated there were as many as 400,000 deaths that year. However, since then, the global population has stronger immunity to the virus and it now circulates as an annual flu virus. The seasonal flu virus protects against H1N1.
