Ireland; Plan is still to treat swine flu in the home

August 10, 2009 by Infowars Ireland

www.irishtimes.com

PLANS FOR GPs to treat people with human swine flu in the patients’ homes will continue to be implemented despite the first death in Ireland from the virus.

Some 30 people are being treated in hospital for the human swine flu virus, the HSE confirmed, but it reiterated that the vast majority can still be treated at home without even calling a doctor.

It also emerged last night that Garret FitzGerald has been quarantined at a chateau in France over fears of a swine flu outbreak.

Along with 20 other Irish people, the former taoiseach was told to stay at the chateau in the central Auvergne region after a young couple there were tested for the virus. The results are expected today.

Speaking to RTÉ, Dr FitzGerald’s daughter, Mary FitzGerald, said the family understood there were precautions and procedures to respect. “We must not get upset over nothing,” she added.

A further 1,400 cases of human swine flu were confirmed last week in Ireland, but the HSE said that only a 1-2 per cent minority would be hospitalised and most would recover.

The alert status for the virus remains unchanged, and the HSE pointed out that there were 1,000 fewer cases last week than the week before.

The health authorities have also confirmed they have no plans to close schools even if there are cases of the virus. Dr Pat Doorley, the national director of population health, said yesterday that if there were incidents, schools could contact their local public health doctors who “will help them with managing the cases”. Read full article…