Younger people, those with an underlying illness, pregnant women and people who are obese are the groups who are likely to become most seriously ill and among whom most deaths may be recorded from swine flu, a local health expert revealed this week.
Dr Diarmuid O’Donovan, the HSE West’s director of public health, said while the virus affects all ages, most deaths have occurred among younger people. At least half of those who died had an underlying illness,
Addressing a meeting of the health authority’s regional health forum, he outlined that Ireland’s 4.4 million population will be targeted in the major vaccination drive being spearheaded by the HSE. People will receive two doses of the pandemic vaccine three to four weeks apart. They will be invited to avail of the vaccine which will be administered at mass vaccination centres based at fixed locations in each county. No definite decision has been made on the Galway location yet.
Supplies of the vaccine, which have yet to be licensed, are expected here in October, at the earliest. The first delivery of the vaccine, which was developed since April, arrived in Ireland last week.
He said the vaccine is considered to be safe, the risk of the disease is much greater than the risk of the vaccine.
Priority groups are all health care workers, then people in “at risk” groups aged six months to 65 years, followed by children aged six months to 18 years, adults over 65 and then the rest of the population.
The immunisation programme will be run over nine months to one year. Groups one and two will be vaccinated in a six to eight week period.
Dr O’Donovan outlined the defined risk groups comprised children under five, over 65s, people on medication for asthma, pregnant women, the obese and those with an underlying illness, including chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, liver, neurological, immunosuppresion and diabetes, etc.
Immunising people against swine flu was important because it prevented excess deaths, there was high morbidity for a significant majority and the virus may mutate, he explained. It would be around for a year or longer, he predicted. He said there was a social and economic impact from the virus, also.
He stressed the illness can be “very serious” and can be at least as serious as seasonal flu - if not more serious - which has not hit here yet. Most people do not have immunity and the illness may be severe and widespread.
“The clear message is there will be more cases and it is likely some will be serious.”
Cllr Mary Hoade asked how high would swine flu levels need to be in schools when it would be considered necessary to close facilities.
He said schools will be assessed on a case by case basis. The question of closing a school had not arisen in Ireland yet. If a situation emerged where a school could not function because a large number of staff were affected then this would be considered.
Cllr Michael Mullins said he was concerned by the HSE’s advice that people with swine flu symptoms should not visit their doctor’s surgery. He wondered how people with the virus could ascertain they had it and get it treated without going to their GP.
Dr O’Donovan said the type of virus around at the moment is mainly swine flu and those with flulike illnesses mainly have the condition. Most people attending GP surgeries are young children and people with underlying illness. People with swine flu symptoms going into that environment could infect others, he warned.
He outlined swine flu symptoms are similar to those associated with seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea (the latter two symptoms have been reported more than for seasonal flu ).
The condition is spread primarily through respiratory droplets - coughing, sneezing and touching respiratory droplets on yourself, another person or an obect.
“If you get the virus stay home if you are sick for seven days after your symptoms begin, limit your contact with other people and contact your GP by telephone. Do not go to hospital unless in an emergency.
“If you are unwell take paracetamol/ibuprofen for a temperature and plenty of fluids, that is the basic treatment for flu like illnesses.”
