The Public Health Agency has urged people to take sensible precautions to help prevent the spread of the virus The Department of Health has confirmed that a two-year-old boy who was suffering from swine flu has died.
It is not yet known if the child, who was from the Irish Republic but was being treated in NI, had an underlying health condition.
The health minister has offered his condolences to the boy’s family.
Eighteen people have died in NI after suffering from the H1N1 virus. Two of those who have died have been confirmed to have had no underlying condition.
Vaccines against the virus are currently only available to people in certain at risk groups.
The health minister, Michael McGimpsey, said he understood the news might heighten public anxiety particularly among parents of young children.
He added: “I have recently spoken to other UK health ministers about Northern Ireland’s current flu picture. I have also spoken to Mary Harney, the Republic of Ireland’s Health Minister.
“In addition, I have consulted with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation about the particular circumstances here.
“They do not recommend extending the vaccination programme beyond the current at risk groups.”
During the pandemic last year, 19 people died from the H1N1 virus, all but one of whom had an underlying condition.
The authorities were unable to establish whether the other victim, a pregnant woman, had an unknown underlying health problem which may have contributed to her death.
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