'Up to 1m Irish' could get virus

The Irish government has warned up to 1m could get swine flu

The government in the Irish Republic has said up to 1m people there could become infected with swine flu over the autumn and winter.

Its Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, warned medical professionals up to 25% of the Irish population could catch the virus.

Dr Holohan said this would put "significant strain" on family doctors, hospitals and intensive care units.

A total of 144 people in the country have so far contracted the virus.

The warning by Dr Holohan was in a letter to medical professionals co-signed by the Irish National Director of Population Health, Dr Patrick Doorley.

The minister for health in Northern Ireland, Michael McGimpsey, has already warned a third of the population there could be infected with swine flu in the autumn. A total of 45 cases have been confirmed in the country up until 6 July.

Earlier this month, World Health Organization head Margaret Chan opened a forum in Mexico on combating swine flu by saying that the spread of the virus worldwide is now unstoppable.

The WHO says most H1N1 cases are mild, with many people recovering unaided.