The United States is currently experiencing a greater number of flu cases than ever before, health official explain.

Typically each year, flu season peaks during February and tapers off after the month as spring comes around.

In a recent study in Helsinki, Finland, a group of children between the ages of 4 and 9 years old, have been noted to have narcolepsy after being given the vaccine for swine flu.

A new study may prove just how the flu virus (both swine flu and ‘regular’ flu) is passed from child to child or person to person.

Many children are still becoming infected with either virus and in some cases, dying from complications caused by the virus.

Accounting for these two additional cases, the total death count for the Northern Ireland area is 21 people.

Swine flu, or H1N1 virus, has claimed the lives of two young children in Northern Ireland.

While vaccines are believed to be completely effective, the NHS explains that seasonal vaccines may only provide a protection rate of 70 to 80 percent.