Published Friday, 17 July 2009
The grim estimate came as the government confirmed that across the UK 29 people have already died after contracting the disease.
The Department has said that there could be between 87, 500 and 175, 000 cases of swine flu over the summer but stressed that this was a worst case scenario planning guide.
More than 78,000 cases may involve complications, forcing more than ten thousand people to be hospitalised.
And at the pandemic's peak, around 12% of the work force could be on sick leave.
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said that: "These assumptions are not a prediction but represent a 'reasonable worst case' scenario for planning purposes.
"The original pandemic plan suggested that a single wave could infect up to half the population. Government scientists have developed a number of further possible scenarios in relation to issues such as 'clinical attack' rates, absence and hospitalisation rates," Mr McGimpsey said.
'Prepare for the worst'
"They should help ensure that pandemic plans are robust and that the Health and Social Care Service, the wider public sector and businesses can plan correctly to deal with every possible outcome. The assumptions will be kept under review as more data become available.
"We cannot be sure how the current pandemic will develop so it is essential that we prepare for the worst and hope that it does not happen. The UK is one of the best prepared countries in the world for this pandemic."
Mr McGimpsey has said that people in the province should continue to contact their GP or ring the Swine Flu Helpline if they are concerned about swine flu.
This follows an announcement that the National Pandemic Flu Service will be activated in England next Thursday.
The Minister said that vaccines are still expected to arrive in August with a vaccination programme starting in September.