Health Protection Agency (HPA)’s latest statistics show that the number of people seeking treatment for fever and colds has begun to drop though the total number of swine flu cases reached 114 amidst the flu epidemic spreading in the Maldives.
According to HPA’s statistics released Saturday, 350 people suspected of having swine flu were tested as of Friday, out of which total 114 tested positive for the H1N1 virus and six patients are hospitalised. These numbers indicate that the number of swine flu cases increased by six in 24 hours, while the statistics released on Friday showed an increase of three people for the previous day.
Meanwhile, the amount of people who sought doctors’ consultations for fever and colds in capital Male on Friday were 680, while 989 were recorded on Thursday. The numbers recorded from the atolls are 869 on Friday, a marked decrease from 1,551 cases the previous day.
HPA’s statistics indicate that colds and flu are spreading at the highest rates in Raa and Noonu atolls. While Raa had 99 reports on Friday, Noonu reported 104 cases while there were 859 in the other atolls sans capital Kaafu atoll.
Two people have died of swine flu so far; a woman aged 51 passed away on March 15 and a man aged 24 on March 4.
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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