One case of swine flu has been confirmed at Cork University Hospital, while a number of other patients are showing signs of the illness.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease, caused by a strain of the influenza type A virus known as H1N1. It can be highly contagious. Symptoms are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, pains in the muscles or joints, headache, chills, fatigue and runny nose.

A high fever, which is a temperature of over 38º Celsius (100.4º Fahrenheit), is the key symptom. The vast majority of patients have both a fever and cough. Most swine flu patients report a sudden onset of symptoms.

Yesterday, CUH announced visiting restrictions following an outbreak of flu there, with patients only allowed to see one named visitor per day and no children allowed (see more here).

It has since announced that one patient has swine flu and others are showing signs of the illness, although no further cases have been confirmed yet.

The hospital has closed off one ward as a precaution and the strict visitor restrictions will remain in place for the time being.