Two swine flu victims still critical
Two swine flu sufferers remained critically ill tonight with health chiefs warning people with underlying medical problems were most at risk of dying from the virus.
The Department of Health said the pair were being treated in intensive care, while another 10 also remain in hospital with the illness.
Some 276 cases have been confirmed in Ireland and chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan claimed they expect deaths from the disease in the coming weeks and months.
“We expect to see further hospitalisations. We expected to see those hospitalisations occurring based on the patterns that have occurred and have been reported in other countries.
“Unfortunately we do expect that over the coming weeks and months that we will begin to see some deaths as a consequence.”
A man in his 30s from Slovakia has been admitted to St James’s Hospital and is critically ill with the virus.
It is not known if he is one of those in intensive care as health chiefs do not comment on individual cases.
The Department of Health said the number of people who contracted the virus from someone else in Ireland was now at 38.
Earlier this month health chiefs conceded swine flu could not be contained and shifted their strategy to focus on treatment.
