Posted online: Oct 20th, 2009

A second pupil at Foyle View Special School is currently in hospital with suspected swine flu following the death of a teenage girl from the virus last week, the Derry News can reveal.

Orla O’Kane (14), who attended the school, died from complications relating to the Swine Flu virus last Sunday.
The teenager had underlying medical conditions.
The Derry News has now learned that a class mate of the late teenager remains in Altnagelvin hospital after being admitted with suspected Swine Flu on October 9th, just two days before Orla’s death.
It comes after concerns were raised at the weekend after it emerged that the O’Kane family only received confirmation on Friday evening that her death was Swine Flu related.
The Derry News has also learned that the Department of Health did not inform health authorities at Altnagelvin hospital that Orla had died as a result of the virus until Thursday.
A statement issued by SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey on behalf of Orla’s parents Kevin and Sallyann said that they were ‘extremely concerned’ over the gap between their daughter’s death and the confirmation, given the number of people who had attended both the wake and funeral.
“Orla died on Sunday evening with medical staff in attendance,” Mr Ramsey said.
“Clearly, the family would have handled the wake and funeral arrangements very differently if the cause of death had been confirmed to them in good time.
“Concern for friends and neighbours has now added to their deep distress at the loss of a very special young girl.
“Given the nature of swine flu, everyone appreciates the need for caution in diagnosis. “But it is equally important to communicate quickly and efficiently with everyone who can play a part in reducing exposure to the virus, and I have to say that was not done in this case.
“I will be raising this issue with the Minister of Health, but like everyone else involved I will seek to do so in a way which will not add further to this family’s distress and respects their need for privacy.”
The principal of Foyle View Special School, Michael Dobbins said that the school had appropriate swine flu control measures in place and they were working closely with the Public Health Agency.
He also paid tribute to Orla, who he described as a ‘great wee girl’.
The Health Minister Michael McGimpsey added that he was saddened to hear about the death and expressed his deepest sympathy to the O’Kane family.