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THE HSE HAS admitted that this year’s flu vaccine is actually only 25% effective against the strain that is circulating in Ireland at the moment.
Yesterday, the HSE warned flu rates in the country are on the rise. Reported cases of influenza-like illnesses in Ireland rose from 15.5 per 100,000 to 29 per 100,000 population and are now above threshold levels. This means that flu is actively circulating in the community, the Health and Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said yesterday.
Though the centre urged people to get vaccinated, it emerged today that this year’s vaccine, which is determined by the World Health Organisation, is only effective in one in four cases of the current strain that is circulating in Ireland.
“Sometimes they get it bang on and we get an exact match and sometimes the virus drifts and we get a different strain from the strain that’s in the vaccine,” Dr Darina O’Flanagan, Director of the HPSC said on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today.
Of the 18 H3N2 flu strains in Ireland about 72% have drifted this year. O’Flanagan said she would still urge people in vulnerable groups to get the vaccine. In a bad year, up to 1,000 people can die of flu and preventing 25% of those deaths is not insignificant, she said.
Influenza is expected to increase over the coming weeks and circulate for at least the next 6-8 weeks. Anyone who has a chronic health condition, older people, pregnant women, people who are overweight and healthcare workers are all advised to get the vaccine immediately.
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I work with Caroline and how she has conducted herself through these terrible events is very admirable. Her and her family’s determination to get justice despite their grief and the awful circumstances of Michael’s death shows such strength of character. I hope they uncover the whole truth. RIP Michael Dwyer.
can’t argue with any of this, and i feel very sorry for her and the family. but this article does nothing to address what he was doing in bolivia. recession doesn’t lead to many people seeking their fortune in latin america with right wing europeans. my guess is (and yes it’s a guess), he was bored with ireland, and was drawn in by a charismatic person with ideas of revolution and adventure and the like. won’t be the first or last to do this, and not always a bad thing necessarily. think of irish poeple who fought in spanish civil war. and by the way, whatever the circumstances of him being there, it bears all the hall-marks of extra-judicial killing.
Bolivia of all places to go..
Australia, America or Canada would probably have being safer…
Hopefully the truth will come out,
But it’s very doubtful it will….
ODwyer was murdered by the Bolivian government in an attempt to undermine rebels seeking independence in that region of Bolivia. They tried to make it look like he was an IRA mercenary along with others from the former russian block and eastern europe to justify their actions in the region.
Many know of his story of security courses that fell through in Europe and the US and for some reason he ended up doing some form of training in Bolivia..but he is an innocent man an he was murdered!
My condolences to Michael’s family. I heard his parents speak on radio one morning a few years back and they struck me as very reasoned, decent people who just wanted to find out what happened to their beloved son. I wish the armchair detectives would just zip it and let them get on with their heartbreaking quest. I cannot imagine their pain and the loss they face every day. I can only wish them strength and success and hope that they find the truth. There but for the grace of god…
Wasn’t he part of a group out to murder the Bolivian president? Good job their plans were foiled.
Dave, there is no proof of that at all .
Did he have any connection with the dodgy mercenary “commander” in Louth? Well covered in the Pheonix.
Greg I worked with Caroline too and I have no doubt others reading this may have a personal connection with Caroline or some other family members. Please show some respect. Those who don’t know the fact please stop assuming that you do.
But the family don’t know the facts either, nor do any of the people who support the idea that he was innocent.
I agree people shouldn’t so easily make assumptions, but that goes for both sides!
Did this guy do any ‘Bodyguard’ courses? Any ‘Close Protection’ courses? Or ‘Hostile Environment Awareness Training’ courses or the like? The ones that say learn to be a bodyguard in a weekend, 4 days, etc.
If so chances are is that he duped into a ‘job’ abroad. Unfortunately it has happened many times.
My condolences to his family.
I knew this guy in college in Galway. He was very mannerly . He worked in halo nightclub doing security and in Dunnes in the deli for a short period . He was very pleasant and friendly .
I’ve spent time in Bolivia and it can be difficult just to get the simplest of things done. Can’t imagine what this family have had to go through.
Did he have any connection with the dodgy “mercenary commander” in Louth. Well documented in the Pheonix magazine.
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