Another child with swine flu died in Northern Ireland today - the second in less than 48 hours.

The 12-year-old boy died in the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald on the eastern outskirts of Belfast.

The Department of Health in Belfast said the boy had a "serious underlying medical condition" but would not elaborate.

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, who conceded there was now a high level of swine flu in Northern Ireland, said: "It is very sad when a child dies and my thoughts and sympathies are with the family. I would ask everyone to respect the privacy of the family at this very sad time."

He warned: "Incidents of swine flu in Northern Ireland remain high and we must expect further increases in cases in the weeks ahead.

"Swine flu remains a major public health threat but we are well prepared and have been planning for a pandemic for some time."

Hugh McCaughey, chief executive of the South Eastern HSC Trust, which runs the Ulster Hospital, said: "Our thoughts at this time are with the boy's family.

"We should also not forget our staff who have cared for him on a regular basis during his many hospital visits."

The boy's death was the fourth related to swine flu in Northern Ireland. Yesterday it was announced a toddler under the age of three had died in the south east of the province on Tuesday.

A baby died last month but a pre-existing heart condition was determined as the cause of death.

In August the mother of two young children died. She had been fighting cancer for five years.

A soldier from Co Londonderry, who was based in the south of England, also contracted the virus and died in Surrey at the end of July.