Swine flu: surge in requests for tests
The first outbreaks of Swine Flu in Malta have predictably brought about a surge of people asking to be tested for the virus, but no one else tested positive overnight, Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea told timesofmalta.com this morning.
Four people who had formed part of a group of 23 rugby players were confirmed as having Swine Flu yesterday and are being treated at their homes under quarantine. They are not seriously ill. The group had travelled to Spain and returned from Girona on Tuesday.
Among other people who were swabbed were some members of the same group and other people who feared having contracted the virus while travelling abroad.
Mr Galea said the swabs of the confirmed cases have been sent to the World Health Organisation, which is monitoring the spread of the virus worldwide and examining the outbreaks.
He expressed his appreciation to the Spanish Ambassador to Malta, Maria Isabel Vicandi Plaza, for having personally contacted the health authorities twice to offer her country's help.
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Maurice Coombs&Fam.
Jul 3rd 2009, 20:21
Well in that case the next we travel to Malta would be by road, this will save us the pain of paying the plane fare, and a remote chance of contracting the virus from other passengers form various countries, and it would be alot cheaper in the long run cause then we don't have to hire a car to take us around the islands. A good idea don't you think?
STEFANIE BOYD
Jul 3rd 2009, 13:06
Not only that but have the rest of the passengers on the plane been checked or have experienced any symptoms?
KZammit
Jul 3rd 2009, 12:55
If i am not mistaken i had read that the virus does not live long in open air.
Marlon Cushcieri
Jul 3rd 2009, 11:47
R.Sammut, Without a doubt, they would have taken precautions to disinfect everything the patient came into contact with.
A. Cachia
Jul 3rd 2009, 11:19
I agree....... LET GET THE PLANES DISINFECTED ( by use of sprays ) each time they land...
This way, it wont spead any further.
R Sammut
Jul 3rd 2009, 10:51
More importantly - was the plane these players travelling on thouroughly disinfected???
The authorities should see to this as a person can sneeze, touch all over the airplane seat etc ... the next person to sit there gets infected...
On another note, I wish a speedy recovery to those affected..