This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8028151.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tests to confirm swine flu case New swine flu cases investigated
(1 day later)
Final test results confirming if the Republic of Ireland has had its first case of swine flu are expected later. Three new suspected cases of swine flu are under investigation in Northern Ireland, health officials said on Saturday afternoon.
Initial tests suggested a man living in the east of the country had contracted the virus. It is understood he had recently returned from Mexico. The latest figures from the Department of Health state that 26 people have tested negative for the disease in NI.
Six people in Northern Ireland have been given anti-viral drugs as a precaution against the swine flu virus. There have been no confirmed cases. A suspected case of swine flu in the Irish Republic has not been confirmed.
The results of tests on these cases are not yet known, while 14 people have now tested negative for the virus. The individual who was tested had recently returned home from Mexico.
The Republic's Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said all the people the man has been in contact will receive anti-viral treatment. But final results on tests carried out will not be known until next week.
Professor Bill Hall, chairman of the National Pandemic Influenza Expert Group, said he was awaiting official test results. The Irish Department of Health has said there are no further probable or confirmed cases in the Republic.
"This is a probable case which is likely to be positive," he said. Across the United Kingdom, health chiefs are awaiting the results of more than 600 tests for swine flu as the number of confirmed cases in the UK reached 13.
Four other people in the Republic of Ireland have been given the all-clear. It comes after officials announced the first two cases of Britons falling ill without having travelled to Mexico.
Northern Ireland has been stepping up preparations to deal with a possible swine flu pandemic. A 43-year-old man from South Gloucestershire had been in contact with a traveller to the country.
NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said masks and protective clothing were being sent out to doctors' surgeries and all should be equipped by Friday. And Graeme Pacitti of Falkirk was infected through contact with the first British people to develop the flu.
The move follows the World Health Organisation's (WHO) decision to raise the current level of influenza pandemic alert from phase four to five - indicating human-to-human transmission in at least two countries. But the Health Protection Agency said the two cases did "not yet represent sustained human-to-human transmission".
It is a "strong signal that a pandemic is imminent", the WHO says. 'Prepared'
In Northern Ireland, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said his department was well prepared.
"Our main message to the public is not to be alarmed about recent developments - but to be prepared for a potential pandemic," he said.
"The NI helpline is now available for the general public to ring on 0800 0514 142 if they have been to an affected country like Mexico and have flu-like symptoms and are worried and need more information."
The World Health Organisation has warned a global pandemic is imminent
The World Health Organisation has raised the pandemic alert to five, which means they consider a global pandemic to be imminent.
However, Mexico has revised down the suspected death toll from swine flu from 176 to 101, indicating that the outbreak may not be as bad as was initially feared.
Health Minister Jose Angel Cordova told the BBC that, based on samples tested, the mortality rate was comparable with that of seasonal flu.
The news came as Mexico continues a five-day shutdown in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.
Globally, 16 countries have now reported swine flu cases.
Five countries outside Mexico have confirmed person-to-person transmission.