First locally-transmitted cluster of swine flu in Gozo

The first cluster of locally-transmitted swine flu was confirmed in Gozo yesterday after three patients who had not travelled abroad tested positive for the virus and the number of infected people went up to 24.

A woman, 24, and two men, aged 22 and 42, who live in Għarb and were in contact with a 16-year-old from the same village, tested positive for the virus on Sunday. The four patients are understood to have been celebrating together during the village festa last week. This development led to an increase in surveillance in the village, especially after doctors reported that a number of young people had been showing signs of influenza and people who had influenza-like symptoms were being tested.

The 16-year-old was the first to come down with swine flu on Sunday and the authorities started tracking the people she came into contact with and tested them. The search for more contacts is ongoing.

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old partner of one of the first Maltese to contract the illness after a trip to Spain also tested positive for the disease. A 16-year-old boy from Naxxar was confirmed to have contracted swine flu late on Sunday evening.

Another two Maltese - a 15-year-old Fgura boy and a 31-year-old woman from Msida - have been registered as suspected cases after they were found to be suffering from influenza type A but not the H1N1 subtype, which was causing the global pandemic after being discovered in Mexico in April.

However, the authorities insisted there was no reason for people to panic, especially since the majority of cases were mild and the first patients to contract the virus had practically recovered.

"The symptoms of some of those who were infected were so mild they could not believe they were suffering from H1N1," Community Care Secretary Mario Galea said.

The only person being treated in hospital because of an underlying health condition was 19-year-old London woman. The authorities' advice is that anyone with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, a cough, a blocked or runny nose and a sore throat, should stay at home.

"The message to anyone who feels unwell is loud and clear: Stay at home," the director general of health, Ray Busuttil said, adding people seemed to be showing symptoms two to three days after coming into contact with an infected person.

Asked whether the Isle of MTV concert, tomorrow, would go ahead as planned, Dr Busuttil said there was no public health reason to cancel it although he called on people who felt ill not to attend.