'Ireland has highest respiratory illness death rate in Europe'
Ireland reportedly has the highest death rate from respiratory disease in western Europe.
Reports this morning said a study by doctors in Cork and Dublin found that Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan were the only European countries with higher death rates from respiratory illness than Ireland.
The study also found that respiratory conditions kill one-fifth of people in Ireland - more than twice the European average - and that treating such illness cost the Irish health service €317m in 2001.
