D Friday, November 20, 2009 METRO 99.99 Prepay Eoin Murphy, nine, Harry Byrne, nine, and Niall Murphy, ten, with Poinsettia plants which will be available in Superquinn stores from next week SeaSonS greetingS Swine flu has peaked, say health chiefsBy joaNNE aHErNTHE current wave of the swine flu pan- demic has probably peaked in Ireland, health experts said yesterday. Dr Darina OFlanagan from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre said around four per cent of the popula- tion now had swine flu but it was less likely there could be a second wave of infection because more people were being vaccinated. The more people that we vaccinate the less likely it is that we will get a second wave, so that is why we would encourage people to continue to get vaccinated, said Dr OFlanagan. Department of Health chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said the rates of infection have dropped in the past week to 134 per 100,000 of the popula- tion, down from 174 per 100,000 the previous week. This equates to around 17,000 new infections in the past week, compared with 27,000 a week earlier. While 72 people had to be admitted to hospital in the past week, the rate of in- crease in H1N1 hospital and intensive care admissions was down slightly. There are now 182 patients in hospi- tal with the virus, 20 in intensive care. There were no reported deaths from the virus this week, but there were 213 adverse reactions to the vaccine report- ed to the Irish Medicines Board. At least 11,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated. Dr Joan Gilvarry of the IMB said more than 100,000 pregnant women had been vaccinated across Europe and that there had been a small number of miscarriages and stillbirths reported, but in all cases a link to the vaccine had been ruled out. None of the miscar- riages was in Ireland, she added. Dr Holohan said he did not believe there was a connection between the miscarriages and the swine flu vaccina- tion. More than 100,000 people have now been vaccinated at HSE clinics. However, the HSE believes the actual figure vaccinated by GPs could be up to three times the official figure as GP re- turns are slow. The HSE is also investigating a hand- ful of complaints that GPs charged pa- tients for the vaccine. Mother who sliced up cousins face is jailed A MOTHER of four who sliced her cousins face with a knife she found on the ground following a disagreement has been sentenced to five years in jail. Catherine Sweeney, 29, claimed after her arrest that her own face had been cut by her cousin some time earlier. Sweeney, of South Circular Road, Rialto, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mary Lynch, 35, and to possession of a knife. Judge Frank ODonnell suspended the final three years of the sentence for six years and ordered her to undergo 12 months probation. He called it an atrocious crime and said she stabbed her victim in a most vicious attack for no reason causing a permanent scar. The court heard Ms Lynch and her husband were waiting at a bus stop when they heard Sweeney roaring across the road at them and saw her come towards them. Ms Lynch felt something pulling at her face and saw Sweeney running away. A number of garda saw Sweeney fleeing and stopped her. Ms Lynch was taken to hospital and treated for a 17cm cut to her face. East Coasts 20yrs on air WICKLOW radio station East Coast FM celebrated its 20th anniversary last night with live performances from the cream of Irish music talent. Eurovision winner Paul Harrington, Brian Kennedy, Jack L and local girl Luan Parle (pictured) were some of those at Brays Mermaid Arts Centre. Manager Ciara OConnor said they were delighted to welcome so many stars for the event. Money raised will go to Wicklow cancer charities. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html