Swine flu cases rise to 48

Melvin Tonna

Jul 8th 2009, 19:41

@ all who want the Isle of Mtv concert cancelled...

Simple...just don't go -.- Why all this fuss?

m farrugia

Jul 8th 2009, 17:29

Mr Calleja the problem is that if we are sensible and stay at home, tomorrow our families still have to mix with the people who attend the concert and tomorrow report for work, where they could be working with vulnerable colleagues such as people with young children, health problems or pregnant women.

Mark Seychell

Jul 8th 2009, 17:16

@ all who are saying that if we want MTV cancelled we should close churches, schools, supermarkets etc...

don't be naiive. At the aforementioend places there won't be circa 50,000 people crowded together, most of whom are foreigners. Common sense must prevail

Chris Vella

Jul 8th 2009, 17:14

Has anyone heard of Glastonbury or Glasto as it commonly referred to?

From reading the comments here below, I'd say not many. So for those you have never heard of Glasto it is 'the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world' . It was held just over a week ago in England and over 100,000+ people attended. The festival was not cancelled inspite of the fact that there were over 6,500 confirmed cases of Swine flu in the UK at the time.

So I ask, why should Malta cancel the Isle of MTV festival?

jbusuttil

Jul 8th 2009, 17:07

@N.Calleja.

You said it all: " What a country of moaners" I second you

Anthony Said

Jul 8th 2009, 16:35

@ all who want Isle of MTV cancelled

So we should cancel all village festas, Sunday Masses, attending in Pizzerias, Bars and Restaurants, stop incoming tourists, do not go for weekend breaks in Gozo , in other words stay at home and wait until swine flu is over ( 2010 ), when another X flu will break again. Then we will be experiencing a pandemic economy. Pooh x' in ............ !! ( not intelligenza ).

victor caruana

Jul 8th 2009, 16:29

At the rate of 1case for every 8300 people, it seems that Malta is one of the hardest hit in the world.

Can onyone confirm?

N.Calleja

Jul 8th 2009, 16:29

What a country of moaners we have become! While swine flu is with us we seem to forget that we had various names of flues in yesteryear and no one made any fuss. Those who were first to be diagonised with this flu are already back in their homes and place of work. So why all the fuss? Why should the Isle of MTV be cancelled? Whose who are so much afraid should stay at home and leave more space to the more adventurous flock

jcmicallef

Jul 8th 2009, 16:12

One radio station news has just quoted Mr. Galea as saying that "only two cases needed to be admitted to hospital".

2 out of 48 is 4.17%. If 25% of the maltese population (plus visitors) were to be infected, transposing that figure would result in some 4,000 cases that need hospitalisation.

Given the relatively large number of ppl suffering from diabetes, asthma, heart condition and the elderly, that figure may not be so far off.

For the time being, 48 cases may not truly represent the health of the population but it would be terrible if it was so.

francis bricks

Jul 8th 2009, 16:06

I'm not surprised at the number of cases... knowing that malta is one of the most densely populated places on the globe.

Alfred Farrugia

Jul 8th 2009, 15:53

Last Saturday, July 4, thousands of people gathered in Washington, DC, for the annual concert to celebrate the U.S. Independence Day on the West Lawn of the Capitol, and the National Mall. This year, among other features, there were the Muppets from Sesame Street to entertain the children!

http://www.pbs.org/capitolfourth/concert_highlights.html

Thousands more gathered in Daytona Beach, Florida, to watch a NASCAR race that had a controversial finish.

http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/headlines/cup/07/04/post.race.tstewart.daytona2.win/index.html

When the A H1N1 virus appeared in the U.S., the Catholic Church authorities in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area suspended the distribution of the consecrated wine from the chalice during the Holy Communion rite; and the people refrained from shaking hands with each other as a sign of peace. After a couple of weeks, everything returned to normal. People are now shaking hands again; the distribution of the consecrated wine has resumed, and the consecrated host is administered on the tongue or in the hand at the discretion of each communicant.

Now, that the virus is in Malta, those who may be suffering from other health conditions need to take more care of themselves. For healthy people it is not the end of the world.

Mario Azzopardi

Jul 8th 2009, 15:45

Well we might as well all get infected and get over this FEAR. No way we will be able to stop this pandemic whatever we do. The only people who are immune are the HERMITS living in Neverland!!!!

C.Galea

Jul 8th 2009, 15:42

"People with swine flu are likely contagious for one day before and up to seven days after they began to get sick with swine flu symptoms."

Source - http://pediatrics.about.com/od/swineflu/a/409_symptoms.htm

So, if one develops symptoms today, one could have infected people the day before, when one didn't even know one was sick...

A. Borg

Jul 8th 2009, 15:41

Shame to all those that gave the "Go ahead" for the MTV isle concert.
You're going to expose thousands of youngsters at risk just for a show!

M. Charlie

Jul 8th 2009, 15:37

@ Mark Seychell

Yes I have been to the MTV concerts held in Malta and to several other concerts and festivals all around the world so I know exactly how crowded these events are and that sometimes it is hard to breathe having everyone crowded in such a way. As I already stated I just have been to a festival on a larger scale and although the crowds are so big, the risk of the infection is very low because of the fact that people are in open air. From a 4-day festival of 75,000+ people there was only one reported case of swine flu in this festival. Also it is important to keep in mind that the reported deaths are all related to people with previously known serious health problems.

I am only saying that there is no cause for alarming the public although everyone should be cautious. Speaking for myself I am not scared to go to the festival although I shall avoid moving to the front where people are almost squashed. There is always ample space at the back!

Edward Darmanin

Jul 8th 2009, 15:34

We have to be level headed in all this. First of all the death rate of the swine flu is no worse than the normal flu. So, if in the winter flu season one wants to shy away from such events then be it. But we have to keep things in perspective. Second, you can avoid such events as long as you like. The swine flu is here to stay so eventually you might get it anyway from work or at church. Finally the Gozo cluster spread seems to be a one off event. There have been numerous feasts (as well as cultural events) where no infections have occured. so what happened in Gozo. Could it have been a case of a group of friends sharing glasses and bottles? Worse still, could it be a case of bars not washing glasses properly. Before paranoia sets in we have to wait for investigations. In the meantime, do we cancel feasts, concerts, masses, performances etc? One logical performance is not to accept drinks in resuable glasses. Catering establishments should dish those temporarily for disposible plastic ones. Other such practical precautions will go a much longer way that grinding life to a halt.

Criss Camilleri

Jul 8th 2009, 15:32

Many youngsters do have unprotected sex, and do not give a hoot about any sexual sicknesses. So does anyone think that many are those who will stay away from the Concert? No, I don't think so. The only way to stop them going, is to STOP this Concert. Can anyone in authority put his hand on his/her heart, and say that this Concert WILL NOT, spread the virus into hundreds? It is also quite 'dangerous' for the young generation to gather and mix around during ANY local feast 'March ta filghodu' . We have a saying, 'Tersaqx lejn in-nar ghaliex tinharaq'

Joe Galea

Jul 8th 2009, 15:26

Those who are calling for MTV to be cancelled should call on the churches to clode their doors and stop mass services. We should all not go to work, to supermarkets, etc. I will be going to MTV because it is less risky there rather than going to work for example.

Joey Borg

Jul 8th 2009, 15:26

i am not one who is taking this pandemic lightly, however, before panicing and calling everyone to stay at home i'd like to compare this infection rate with the infection rate of normal influenza.

Do we have the ability to compare this?

I mean, we are constantly subject to health hazards, this time the difference is that our bodies aren't prepared to fight it, though with medication it is controllable. However, if the spread rate is much higher than normal influenza, my concern would be whether we have enough medication?!

r ellul

Jul 8th 2009, 15:21

it proves that MONEY is more important than the well being of people, It is not rocket science any one with common sense knows to stay away for large gatherings in order to reduce the spread of any virus....... every one thinks "It will never happen to me" well ask the people who got swine flu I am sure they thought the same.

Alex Mifsud

Jul 8th 2009, 15:19

@Isabelle Agius...hope you and your family are all healthy ones... what about the others who are not? Is it fair that they may die because it keeps on spreading to all of us?

mario gellel

Jul 8th 2009, 15:15

SINCE THE MTV CONCERT WAS NOT POSPONDE, AND THOUSANDS WILL FLOCK TO SEE IT, FOR SURE IT IS GOING TO MAKE SWINE FLU MORE EASY TO SPREAD.
GIVEN THIS CONCERT THE GO AHEAD IS MISJUDEMENT FROM THE HEALT DEPARTMENT,WHEN ONE CONSIDER THAT IT IS SPREADING AT A FAST RATE.
THIS CAN BRING NOT ONLY A HEALTH PADEMIC, BUT AN ECONOMIC ONE TOO.
WORKING MOTHERS WILL HAVE TO STAY AT HOME IF SOME FAMILY MEMBER GETS IT
AND THAT WILL EFFECT ALL BUSNESS IN GENERAL.

Janica

Jul 8th 2009, 15:11

Also to all the parents reading this article and have children who are goint to attend the isle of mtv, its better f they dont let them go to this event.

Janica Saliba

Jul 8th 2009, 15:08

To avoid any more infections, I think its better if the MTV concert will be cancelled.

Mark Seychell

Jul 8th 2009, 15:06

M. Charlie

have you ever been to Isle of MTV? 50,000 people crowded together is almost worse than being inside I can tell you. At times you can literally feel the breath of the person behind you on your neck.


Isabelle

Are you sure people are doing enough reading? Including the thousands of over excited teenagers waiting to go to their first concert? Including people who will go to watch their favorite artists at all costs, without caring about the risk they can pose to themselves and others?

Daniel Jackson

Jul 8th 2009, 15:02

Problem is that I think people with kidney problems can't even take tamiflu. So their relatives should take care not to get the flu themselves if possible, to help..

Ramon Zammit

Jul 8th 2009, 14:58

I had been warning over this event for the past week and most of my messages were not posted for obvious reasons. Today's event is going to be a huge mistake. As far as I know there is nothing more important than being healthy!! I am really disappointed with the authorities.

Isabelle Agius

Jul 8th 2009, 14:54

@Alex Mifsud
All the deaths in the UK concerned patients with underlying health problems. Please let's not alarm people. I am sure everybody is doing his reading without the need to provide any links.

M. Charlie

Jul 8th 2009, 14:52

I just came from a festival in Belgium where more than 75,000 people where present.

The official site of the festival says, and I quote, "The risk of infection is especially important when people have contact during a long period of time, in a closed space. The risk of infection is very low during short or open air contacts, at a music festival for example. The risk of being infected during a festival is not higher or lower than in any other public place."

Alex Mifsud

Jul 8th 2009, 14:49

Those of you who have already decided to attend MTV concert please do visit

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Swine-Flu-Man-And-Child-Die-from-Virus-In-West-Yorkshire-As-Total-UK-Death-Toll-Rises-To-Seven/Article/200907115330244?lid=ARTICLE_15330244_SwineFlu:ManAndChildDiefromVirusInWestYorkshireAsTotalUKDeathTollRisesToSeven&lpos=searchresults

James Grech

Jul 8th 2009, 14:49

It seems that there are people who are taking the tamiflu pills even before actually getting the virus, wrongly thinking that they will be immune to it. More information about this has to be disseminated. As rgrds this evening's event, knowing how youngsters behave, it can be liberally assumed that people which are already infected with the virus will still attend because its a hyped event and we don't get too many of them here. Also tourists who will be coming over to attend this event will most probably not bother staying indoors rather then attend. So in my opinion this is a further deterrent and a cause for more transmission. While panicking is not recommended, responsibility is a must however.

Mark Seychell

Jul 8th 2009, 14:30

completely agree Mr Farrugia

Samwel Bezzina

Jul 8th 2009, 14:30

I think people who have symptoms or who know that they are carriers of the virus should be responsible enough not to go to public places, especially public transport. It is highly unfair to be sitting next to a coughing person for half an hour. This applies to all other kinds of flu. Common sense and etiquet!

Mark Seychell

Jul 8th 2009, 14:07

Due to the Isle of MTV concert, I predict that these figures will double, if not triple, in the coming days

M.L. Vella

Jul 8th 2009, 13:59

Lovely, We now officially have higher rates than countries like Norway, sweden, switzerland, etc in just a week! That goes to show how careful we are. After tonite the toll will probably have exceeded the 100 mark by next week making it the second fastest rise in a country for the disease following Spain

Mark Anthony Vella

Jul 8th 2009, 13:56

I'm worried this number will increase alot after today's event.

J Farrugia

Jul 8th 2009, 13:55

Why didn't the Government order the cancellation of the mass gathering at Floriana for the MTV Music festival. In my opinion THAT is a giant health hazard for our islands and I can predict that the number of swine fever cases will shoot up, by the thousands of youngsters who will be going to this festival in Floriana. It would have been wiser for the Government not to look at the economic side of the activity but to avoid further ouburst of this fever which this irresponsible gathering will be creating. I earnestly hope that I am wrong but we are asking for it at this delicate time. Government should have ignored the organisers pleas not to cancel this activity and should have stood by its prime objective: that of caring and safeguarding the Maltese people's health.