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Swine flu epidemic on rapid rise with over 100 infected

Fathmath Shaahunaz
16 March 2017, MVT 15:59
Patients milling in the flu clinic opened in IGMH. PHOTO/SOCIAL MEDIA
Fathmath Shaahunaz
16 March 2017, MVT 15:59

The number of people who tested positive for swine flu is now above 100, announced Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Thursday.

HPA’s statistics late Wednesday had reported 82 cases of people infected by the H1N1 virus. With the latest report, the number has increased by 24 in less than a day. This amount is also significantly higher than the 16 cases of swine flu reported over the past two years.

According to HPA’s statistics, 335 people suspected of having swine flu were tested out of which 105 (31 percent) tested positive for the H1N1 virus. Two people have died of swine flu so far with a woman aged 51 that passed away late Wednesday and a man aged 24 on March 4.

HPA disclosed that total 739 people with fever and cold consulted doctors in capital Male on Wednesday, out of which eight patients were admitted to hospitals for treatment. Meanwhile, total 1,076 people suffering from respiratory diseases had gone to hospitals that day and 22 of them were hospitalised.

Statistics indicate that the highest number of people who sought treatment for fever and colds were in the atolls of Haa Dhaal with 116 patients and Laamu with 101.

An average of 3,000 people contract fever and the common cold per week in the Maldives. Records show that the number spiked to average 5,000 from the end of February onwards.

Swine flu poses the greatest danger to children under the age of five, adults over the age of 65, pregnant women, people suffering from conditions of the lungs, liver, heart, blood, respiratory system and neuromuscular metabolism, people with low immunity and those undergoing long-term medical treatments.

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