I read this morning that there is another death from swine flu. You can see the report here: http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0818/swineflu.html. The person was in an ‘at risk’ category, but the family do not want any other details released. Curiously, RTE uses the phrase when referring to the first person who died that “She had also been suffering from cystic fibrosis”.

It is very difficult to quantify the risk that this flu presents.  It is very difficult to say things like “it is not a really virulent flu strain” simply because the concept of what constitutes a virulent strain is not something we are used to.  More people will die in Ireland this year from car accidents.  More people will require hospitalisation as a result of car accidents.  Car accidents still remain a bigger threat to the population as a whole than the flu.

A virulent strain like H5N1 could have a mortality rate of several percent of the people who are infected (unless we have a good vaccine).

However, people are really worried about this particular strain of flu. Mary Harney has extended her sympathies to the family of the person who has died. This was a nice gesture, but this doesn’t generally happen for the families of car accident victims and each life is equal.

I suspect that, while it is no comfort whatsoever for the family of the people that have died, the H.S.E. have done a pretty impressive job during this flu outbreak.  We have had a lot of people in intensive care and they have survived.

This will make one of the biggest differences between this flu and the 1918 flu.  We have healthcare that will save lives. We have drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza and soon we will have a vaccine and global vaccination strategy.

What I would like to hear soon is: What is the vaccination strategy? Who will pay the GP bills? Have the GPs agreed to do the extra work?  There is talk of setting up clinics in GAA halls, etc. Who will administer the vaccine there?

I’m sure there is a strategy, but I would like to know more.