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| Three swine flu-related NI deaths | Three swine flu-related NI deaths |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A swine flu vaccination programme for hundreds of children with complex special needs starts today. | A swine flu vaccination programme for hundreds of children with complex special needs starts today. |
| It comes after three more people in Northern Ireland died from illnesses related to the H1N1 virus on Wednesday. | It comes after three more people in Northern Ireland died from illnesses related to the H1N1 virus on Wednesday. |
| Two of the victims are understood to be children who attended special schools and the third a 62-year-old man. | Two of the victims are understood to be children who attended special schools and the third a 62-year-old man. |
| An emergency meeting involving the health and education ministers along with senior officials from both departments is set to be held later. | An emergency meeting involving the health and education ministers along with senior officials from both departments is set to be held later. |
| On Wednesday, a second child from Foyleview special school in Londonderry, Ashleigh Lynch, died after contracting swine flu. | |
| Ashleigh's fellow pupil, 14-year-old Orla O'Kane, died last week. Ashleigh was one of three people to die on Wednesday after contracting the virus. | Ashleigh's fellow pupil, 14-year-old Orla O'Kane, died last week. Ashleigh was one of three people to die on Wednesday after contracting the virus. |
| The health department said a 62-year-old man with swine flu had died but "it was not the cause of his death". | The health department said a 62-year-old man with swine flu had died but "it was not the cause of his death". |
| A third patient with swine flu and other complex health issues has also died in hospital. | A third patient with swine flu and other complex health issues has also died in hospital. |
| No further details were released, but it is understood the victim was a young child who attended a special school in Belfast and had been in intensive care. | No further details were released, but it is understood the victim was a young child who attended a special school in Belfast and had been in intensive care. |
| 'Difficult time' | 'Difficult time' |
| Dr Caroline Harper, director of public health, said it was a sad and difficult time for the families of those who died on Wednesday. | Dr Caroline Harper, director of public health, said it was a sad and difficult time for the families of those who died on Wednesday. |
| "I do have to say though, that the recent deaths are not entirely unexpected. | "I do have to say though, that the recent deaths are not entirely unexpected. |
| "The virus is now more widespread within the community and it's natural we will get an increased number of cases. | "The virus is now more widespread within the community and it's natural we will get an increased number of cases. |
| "While for the vast majority of people this remains a mild illness, there are a very small number of people who do suffer more serious complications, particularly if they have underlying medical conditions themselves, or pregnant woman, are another particular at risk group." | "While for the vast majority of people this remains a mild illness, there are a very small number of people who do suffer more serious complications, particularly if they have underlying medical conditions themselves, or pregnant woman, are another particular at risk group." |
| Priority | Priority |
| Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride said the vaccination programme was a priority. | Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride said the vaccination programme was a priority. |
| "We are starting on Thursday and Friday to target in the first instance all children attending schools for children with severe learning disability," he said. | "We are starting on Thursday and Friday to target in the first instance all children attending schools for children with severe learning disability," he said. |
| "We will then gradually make arrangements over the next number of days and next number of weeks to extend that programme to all such children and young adults in other schools." | "We will then gradually make arrangements over the next number of days and next number of weeks to extend that programme to all such children and young adults in other schools." |
| Ten people from Northern Ireland who had the virus have died - eight in NI and the other two in England and Spain. | Ten people from Northern Ireland who had the virus have died - eight in NI and the other two in England and Spain. |