Quarter of population could be affected by first wave of swine flu
08/09/2009 - 16:06:25The country’s chief medical officer has said he expects that a quarter of the population will be affected in the first wave of the swine flu outbreak this winter.
Dr Tony Holohan confirmed this afternoon that between 30 and 40 cases of flu are now being reported per 100,000 of population.
He said almost eight million doses of swine flu vaccine had now been acquired, and that the first of these would be administered next month.
“About 25% of the population could become affected in a first wave,” Dr Holohan told the Oireachtas Health Committee.
“Up to 10% of the workforce may be absent from work during that time, and perhaps between 1% and 2% of cases might require treatment in hospital.”
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