tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
There is very little swine flu about at this stage but it could return in the autumn. There is also the possibility that it could mutate, producing a more deadly threat.
But if there is another wave we will be better prepared.
Over one million of us in the Republic are vaccinated against it and as many again are thought to have caught the virus. So there is considerable herd immunity around.
The swine flu strain will be incorporated into the normal seasonal flu vaccine due in October and this will be distributed in an orderly way through GPs and workplaces.
The only group who are advised to continue to get the vaccine between now and then are mothers-to-be or women who are thinking of becoming pregnant. It is still available free to them.
The predictions here were that we could see a possible scenario where up to 25pc of the population, or one million people, were laid low by the virus.
The fear at that stage was that it could be a killer strain which would have a high death toll. However, the reality is that it was mostly mild.
But we should not underestimate its impact. The question is, was all of this overly hyped and did it just amount to a bonanza for drug companies?
We are talking now with the benefit of hindsight and probably, on balance, the global 'batten down the hatches' attitude was the right one. We must not forget it left a tragic legacy, causing the deaths of 24 people in the Republic.
One of these was perfectly healthy and another was a pregnant woman in her 30s. Swine flu was lethal for these people and was a particular threat for younger age groups.
Seasonal flu almost exclusively kills older people but swine flu was markedly different because of the toll it took on younger age groups.
Three of its Irish victims were under 15 years of age and two were aged 15-25 years, the figures compiled by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre showed.
But although older groups were less likely to catch the flu -- because of an inherited immunity -- they also tragically succumbed in relatively high numbers.
There have been 11 deaths among the over 55s from swine flu, including five among the over 65s.
The other deaths include five among people aged 25-45 years and three among the 45-55 year group.
Deaths involved 10 men and 14 women.
Some of those who died had more than one medical condition. The existing illnesses included respiratory disease, heart disease, liver disease, asthma, kidney disease, and severe obesity.
It left hundreds more survivors in its wake but not before they endured a bad, life-threatening bout. They ended up in hospital or intensive care due to swine flu complications but made it through.
http://www.independent.ie/health/sw...d-for-now-but-it-could-come-back-2134246.html
But if there is another wave we will be better prepared.
Over one million of us in the Republic are vaccinated against it and as many again are thought to have caught the virus. So there is considerable herd immunity around.
The swine flu strain will be incorporated into the normal seasonal flu vaccine due in October and this will be distributed in an orderly way through GPs and workplaces.
The only group who are advised to continue to get the vaccine between now and then are mothers-to-be or women who are thinking of becoming pregnant. It is still available free to them.
The predictions here were that we could see a possible scenario where up to 25pc of the population, or one million people, were laid low by the virus.
The fear at that stage was that it could be a killer strain which would have a high death toll. However, the reality is that it was mostly mild.
But we should not underestimate its impact. The question is, was all of this overly hyped and did it just amount to a bonanza for drug companies?
We are talking now with the benefit of hindsight and probably, on balance, the global 'batten down the hatches' attitude was the right one. We must not forget it left a tragic legacy, causing the deaths of 24 people in the Republic.
One of these was perfectly healthy and another was a pregnant woman in her 30s. Swine flu was lethal for these people and was a particular threat for younger age groups.
Seasonal flu almost exclusively kills older people but swine flu was markedly different because of the toll it took on younger age groups.
Three of its Irish victims were under 15 years of age and two were aged 15-25 years, the figures compiled by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre showed.
But although older groups were less likely to catch the flu -- because of an inherited immunity -- they also tragically succumbed in relatively high numbers.
There have been 11 deaths among the over 55s from swine flu, including five among the over 65s.
The other deaths include five among people aged 25-45 years and three among the 45-55 year group.
Deaths involved 10 men and 14 women.
Some of those who died had more than one medical condition. The existing illnesses included respiratory disease, heart disease, liver disease, asthma, kidney disease, and severe obesity.
It left hundreds more survivors in its wake but not before they endured a bad, life-threatening bout. They ended up in hospital or intensive care due to swine flu complications but made it through.
http://www.independent.ie/health/sw...d-for-now-but-it-could-come-back-2134246.html