The results of tests for swine flu on four Irish people who recently returned from overseas have proved negative, it was announced tonight.

The samples were tested for the deadly virus at the national virus reference laboratory in Dublin.

Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, told a press conference at Government Buildings that there was no evidence the disease had made it to Ireland.

He said the Department was, however, advising anyone planning to visit affected areas to postpone all non-essential travel in line with the latest European Union guidelines. Signs are being put in place at Irish airports in coming days in relation to the threat.

Professor Bill Hall, chairman of Ireland’s National Pandemic Influenza Expert Group, said investigations were also continuing to see if the 177,000 units of the seasonal flu vaccine already in stock could give some extra protection against the virus.

Dr Holohan said yesterday the State has had a pandemic plan in place since 2007 and it was recently updated. He also stressed that antivirals to treat up to 47 per cent of the population had been stockpiled.

The HSE’s head of health protection Dr Kevin Kelleher said notices will be issued in the coming days to airports and ports containing information for those leaving the country or those who have recently returned from abroad.



The notices will advise anyone concerned that they may have developed flu-like symptoms while in an infected area to contact their GP.



”Clinicians will advise those who have returned from abroad and may be concerned if they have developed flu like symptoms. These individuals can then be tested as a precautionary measure if deemed necessary,” Dr Kelleher said. “We expect to test a number of people in these circumstances over the coming days and weeks.”



The HSE said surveillance has been stepped up around the country and guidance has been issued to hospital clinicians and GPs in relation to sending tests to the National Viral Reference Laboratory. Health workers have also been asked to report clusters of flu or respiratory infections.



Minister for Health Mary Harney today briefed ministers on the latest developments in relation to risks facing Ireland at the weekly Cabinet meeting.



“(The Minister) informed the Government that response systems were well prepared and that Irish authorities were liaising closely with relevant agencies in other countries,” said a Government spokesman.



Ms Harney will attend a meeting of EU health ministers on the evolving situation in relation to swine flu on Thursday.

Details of the possible or suspect Irish cases came to light as Scotland confirmed it had two cases of swine flu and just hours after a case was confirmed in Spain. These were the first cases in Europe. Cases have also been confirmed today in Israel and New Zealand.



The World Health Organisation (WHO) raised its pandemic alert level over the swine flu virus to phase four last night. So far the outbreak has killed 149 people in Mexico and spread to the United States, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and Israel.



A global health alert was issued by the WHO on Friday in relation to H1N1 human swine influenza after it became clear the strain had killed significant numbers of people in Mexico. It said the strain, which is a mixture of pig, avian and human virus, had the potential to cause a flu pandemic.



The WHO uses a series of six phases of pandemic alert as a system for informing the world of the seriousness of the threat it faces.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs urged Irish citizens travelling in Mexico to exercise extreme caution in coming days. It said about 300 Irish people live in Mexico and about 1,000 Irish people are currently on holidays there.

A spokesman emphasised, however, these were mainly in the Cancun area on the Caribbean coast which was not affected by swine flu. No Irish have been caught up in the outbreak in Mexico, he said.