This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25863252
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Swine flu: NI boy taken to Scottish hospital | Swine flu: NI boy taken to Scottish hospital |
(35 minutes later) | |
A primary school child from east Belfast has been diagnosed with swine flu, the BBC has learned. | |
The boy has been transferred to a hospital in Scotland. | The boy has been transferred to a hospital in Scotland. |
It is understood that he became unwell at the weekend and was admitted to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. | It is understood that he became unwell at the weekend and was admitted to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. |
He was isolated but was then transferred to a hospital in Glasgow, possibly because he required a specialist breathing machine. | |
It is unclear whether the virus was picked up in Northern Ireland but the BBC understands the boy's family had previously travelled outside the country. | It is unclear whether the virus was picked up in Northern Ireland but the BBC understands the boy's family had previously travelled outside the country. |
Three years ago an outbreak of swine flu killed almost 30 people in Northern Ireland. | Three years ago an outbreak of swine flu killed almost 30 people in Northern Ireland. |
The majority of those who died had underlying health issues. Many more people were struck by the virus, but recovered. | The majority of those who died had underlying health issues. Many more people were struck by the virus, but recovered. |
Twenty people in Northern Ireland have currently been diagnosed with swine flu, according to the Public Health Agency. | |
BBC Northern Ireland's health correspondent Marie-Louise Connolly said: "H1N1, or swine flu, is now considered, and is being treated, like any other strain of the flu virus. | |
"Back in 2009, when we first heard of swine flu, it was a completely different scenario. | |
"They didn't have a vaccine widely available to tackle the virus. Over the last five years all that has changed." | |
She pointed out that it was "not an epidemic". | |
"For that to be declared there has to be 52 people per 100,000 people affected," she said. | |
Our correspondent said in the case of the Belfast boy an important factor to consider would be if the child had any underlying health issues, such as asthma. | |
The health trust said they did not comment on individual cases. |