METRO FREE Friday, November 6, 2009 FOUR people with swine flu have died in the last week, bringing the total death toll to 14, it was confirmed last night. Health bosses said a man and two women died from the H1N1 virus in the east of the country and another woman in the south. All had underly- ing medical conditions. Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer with the Department of Health, expressed his condolences to the affected families on behalf of the HSE and the health minister. An estimated 30,000 people have contracted swine flu in the past week. However, the HSE said this figure should not be compared with last weeks estimate of 9,000, which was based only on the number of people reporting symptoms. Based on trends, the new figure also estimates the number of people who may have caught the virus but have not reported it. Dr Holohan said there was a slight fall in the rate of infection, from 210 per 100,000 last week to 178.5 this week. The top medic said 165 people were in hospital, with 19 fighting for their lives in intensive care. Pregnant women have accounted for around six per cent of hospital cases to date. Dr Holohan urged people, and in particular chil- dren under 14, to stay away from hospitals. Dr Joan Gilvarry of the Irish Medicines Board said 250,000 doses of the swine flu vaccine have been distributed, with around 20,000 people in- oculated. But only 23 adverse reactions have been recorded, including flu-like symptoms, mild itch- ing and rashes. In the North, a girl of nine and a woman of 65 died of the virus this week, bringing total swine- flu deaths there to ten. BY ROSS McdOnagh 30,000 victims of swine flu in 7days U2 received the award for Best Live act during the 2009 MTV Europe Music awards held at the O2 arena In Berlin last night after giving a free concert to mark 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall See Page 13 Picture: Getty U2 WIN TOP LIVE ACT hELP METRO hELP ThE EnVIROnMEnT. RECYCLE ThIS nEWSPaPER TOdaY INSIDE TODAY 60Second Interview: Page 16 Hollywoods Megan Fox on her latest sexy kiss with her female co-star See Page 14 PLUS MetroLife at the movies 12 dead in mass killing at Texas army baseSee Page 10 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html