Third swine flu case in Republic

Tamiflu tablets are prescribed for people with swine flu

A third swine flu case has been confirmed in the Republic, health officials have announced.

A woman who lives in the east of the country, who had recently returned from New York, tested positive.

Her case is unconnected to the second confirmed case in Ireland, also a woman who lives in the east and had just returned from New York.

So far there has been one positive case of swine flu in Northern Ireland. One possible case is also being tested.

There have been 81 negative tests in Northern Ireland.

The confirmed case was detected in a man from the Portglenone area in County Antrim, who had been on holiday in Mexico.

The health authorities in the Republic said the woman with the latest case of swine flu was being treated at home.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan added: "We would also ask that people who have visited an affected area and become ill with flu-like symptoms make their initial contact with their GP by telephone and not present at a GP surgery or A&E unit."

Last week the Irish government lifted a ban on non-essential travel to Mexico as officials believed the risk of infection had receded.