A MAN IN Northern Ireland has died from swine flu, making it the second death from the virus on the island of Ireland in a week.
Last week, the HSE confirmed the death of a child in a Dublin hospital from the H1N1 strain of influenza.
An international pandemic was declared in 2009 by the World Health Organisation due after an outbreak of the virus.
Since then its status has changed, and it is now regarded by health authorities in the North and South as a winter flu that can be protected against by the seasonal flu vaccine.
It is understood that the death happened at the Craigavon Area hospital, and that the patient had underlying health concerns.
This evening the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland would not confirm that it was the H1N1 strain of the virus that caused the death, but earlier issued a statement encouraging anyone in an at-risk group to get the flu vaccine.
The PHA said said at the end of last month that there had been an increase in the level of influenza in the region.
Figures released by the the body for the end of January show 36 cases of swine flu in intensive care units across Northern Ireland.
SDLP MLA Karen McKevitt said that she had information that there could be as many as 150 cases of the condition, and that “the public must be reassured that they are not at any increased risk”.
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