City braced as 10 Swine Flu cases confirmed

Date Published: 24-Jul-2009

WITH absenteeism rates expected to soar between 15% and 70% when the Swine Flu takes hold in the autumn and winter, businesses in Galway have been urged to prepare for an outbreak and appoint a virus co-ordinator.

World health chiefs have warned the H1N1 virus is spreading faster than any previous flu pandemic. There are up to a dozen confirmed cases in Galway already.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that more than 700 people worldwide are now thought to have died after contracting the virus. It is a huge jump from the 429 deaths reported on July 6.

Latest figures from the Department of Health indicate a further five cases of swine flu have been confirmed in the State, bringing the total number of confirmed cases of the virus to 177. Of these cases, 21 are known to have been transmitted within the country.

Last week local health officials said there were around ten confirmed cases in Galway. The HSE has warned that it is “inevitable” that there will be some deaths from swine flu in Ireland in the future as the virus spreads. Just 12 people have been hospitalized with the virus but all have recovered fully.

The HSE has warned businesses to plan for…