Saturday, 11th July 2009 - 18:35CET

A(H1N1) cases now number 75

The number of confirmed cases of A(H1N1) in Malta and Gozo as at 2 p.m. today has reached 75 - 38 men and 37 women, the health authorities said.

Eighteen of them have been cured while the rest are receiving treatment.

Six cases were confirmed since yesterday's updated - two in Malta and four in Gozo. The cases in Malta include a 13-year-old Russian girl and those in Gozo a one-year-old boy.

None of the people suffering from the virus are currently hospitalised and those diagnosed are responding to treatment.

Only vulnerable people are now being tested as the country has moved from containment to mitigation.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Saturday, November 7, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Petra Renatta (on 17/7/09)

Stop saying that all we are scared about the virus im still studying medicine and i can tell you that if you do not know nothing about that please do not comment stupid things! You all must be worried but I can imagine no one of you have catch it, until you get it you will know how does it feel!

Take care.

A Cardona (on 13/7/09)

I feel this flu is being taken too lightly here. Of course there is no need to panic but it is being underestimated/ By reading the following article one can conclude why :- http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090713/tuk-six-year-old-girl-dies-of-swine-flu-6323e80.html

S Cassar (on 13/7/09)

Are the responsible authorities screening arrivals, at our airport and passengers crossing over from Gozo? Is it wise to do so? Can someone shed some light on this?

c borg (on 12/7/09)

What is the strategy of this virus................is it better that one contracts it to build d immune system ?.....or are we waiting to get vaccinated....................and what s the chance of getting it for the second time ? is it realistic to say that it shall stop someday ? and til that day ? and what s the probability percentage rate for the virus to mutate, or verges with another virus say the influenza virus or the avian virus, if and why can it become more severe in the winter months.................and can somebody pls specify whether it is true that even healthy persons are at risk ? cause if this is the case, yes, i can see that we all shall be more prudent and responsable and if the need be, take drastic measures to safeguard our health

J S Borg (on 12/7/09)

@L Flask Of course we did have very intelligent and responsible people to run the country; I do remember few ones. It could be that you are too young to remember or to know about.

Ryan Zammit (on 12/7/09)

The majority of people who died of H1N1 all had underlying medical conditions. The cases where healthy people have died are very rare.

Lets not set everyone into panic mode. I have just arrived from London which is one of the worst hit cases. To out amazement there was no sign of people wearing face masks, or cleaning hands regularly. Life seemed to be going on so normal. We had to make an effort to remember that there was a virus around.

Ludwig Flask (on 12/7/09)

@Brian Hansford: So if I have understood you well - not everyone will get it free - So can I assume this a 2 ways 2 measures as with most issues tackled by the local government, yes? (I agree though that people with certain medical 'confirmed' conditions will be given priority!)

@GOV: The percentage stock claimed to be available now and within the next few months (I'm referring to Tamiflu and party) is it enough? If C. Marsh's comment is real how come Malta hasn't followed UK's steps? what if we get a swine + birdflu variant, is Tamiflu effective on a second prescription?

C. Marsh (on 12/7/09)

In the UK, I heard today on Sky News that the vaccine will be given to the entire population. That is around 60 million people. How about Malta??
And to all those taking this lightly, don't get fooled this is killing even healthy persons.

Ludwig Flask (on 12/7/09)

@J S Borg: Dear PM, The only requirement I have is that politically Malta be run by mature and intelligent people whom have the guts to take decisions on real issues, national, social whatever from which the younger generation will benefit in future!

Anthony Dimech (on 12/7/09)

Why was Gozo hit so bad and most of the cases were not imported?

J Bajada (on 12/7/09)

I think that the main reason why the cases of A(H1 N1) are increasing at a faster rate in Gozo is because Gozo is a very small island. its inhabitants practically go round the island easily for various reasons (shopping, work, free time habits, church, feasts, etc), and since the effects of the flu on those infected start a week after contamination and the sick ones at first are unconscious of the fact that they are sick, the flu continues to spread through the population. therefore, the bigger the country, the lesser the risk of spread, even if the population if very much larger.

John Borg (on 12/7/09)

18 of them = 75-18 not +

Brian Hansford (on 11/7/09)

@Marco Palermo during the program Realta' it was said by the experts that the vaccine will not be in malta before January as other countries are before us in the queue.
@Marco Palermo i disagree with you that this is a normal flu in fact it is slightly stronger than the common flu. during last thursdays on Realta' Dr Charmaine Gauchi when i asked her is this a normal flu like some are saying , her reply was that this is not a normal flu.
Ludwig Flask@ tamiflu is free BUT only those that are suffering with a condition will get it from the government, doctors will issue flu tablets instead and if it gets worse than they give the said pills, they are keeping the stock they have in case the virus becomes stronger.
There is another product that i heard is pretty good rilanza inhaler .

J S Borg (on 11/7/09)

@L Flask If I were you I would draw up a list of all your requirements, which you think are important with regards to swine flu send to the prime minister with a recommendation for distribution allover the place. Also why don't we get paid, in full, for staying at home. Also it is very important that when we phone the doctor he/she should be at our place within minutes otherwise we might pass away into thy kingdom come.

M Chetcuti (on 11/7/09)

M Palermo, one must not look at the no of people being killed, but at the mortality rate. Swine flu is 6 per 100. Normal flu is much less! That is why swine flu is NOT like the normal flu. Please inform yourself.

S. Farrugia (on 11/7/09)

@ L.Camilleri
Usually vaccines take about 6 weeks to become effective. This is because the body needs to build up its 'army' against the virus.

Although the cases we had so far were not serious and a number of patients have recovered fully, one has to bear in mind that viruses mutate and this is always a concern for the health authorities. Yesterday, the first patient with no underlaying disease (eg asthma, heart conditions etc) died in the UK. This is of great concern to health authories.

Good hygiene, especially washing your hands well and frequently should not only be followed because of the pandemic. Did you ever notice, how gastric flu spreads within families because of poor hand hygiene? Good hand-washing technique is also important.

Marco Palermo (on 11/7/09)

yes asthma patients are being tested, although i doubt there have been any deaths from swine flu due to asthma.

L.Camilleri (on 11/7/09)

Yes I heard that the vaccine will be out in October but when will we be covered by it?

Ludwig Flask (on 11/7/09)

Just to correct my previous comment "Another thing, a good percentage of the Maltese population suffers..." I meant suffer from asthma! Are these classified as vulnerable, thus will be tested?

Marco Palermo (on 11/7/09)

oh come on flippant ,fatalistic attitude?
Stop making a big deal everyone. This is no more different than normal flu, actually the normal flu kills more people annually then swine flu. Its just the media frenzy and the fact that its a "new" virus that is making everyone paranoid.

There is no need to worry about winter either "cause we are going to be saved!!!"
Vaccine out in October:
http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/09/h1n1-vaccine-should-be-ready-by-mid-october/

Cant you all notice this is just a gimmick from pharmaceutical companies to make everyone buy their vaccines... how many people still take the annual Flu shot? (normal flu)

Ludwig Flask (on 11/7/09)

In one way or another we'll be passed on H1N1... is Tamiflu free? We got the vouchers for the bulbs - thanks! Since this is a pandemic can we have another set of vouchers for Tamiflu and/or for doctors' home visits?

Can forward some assumptions of what the problem with Gozo is? (1) it's a tourist attraction, more than Malta (2) Gozitans travel more than Maltese (3) Gozitans socialize more than Maltese (4) Maybe Gozitans weren't aware of this pandemic (who was?) (5) Gozitans don't wash their hands? (ridiculous)(and no offence meant)(so we can still get H1N1 no matter how many times we wash our hands)! (6) ... Gozo get well soon!

Hope all of us get on with this today before tomorrow.

Another thing, a good percentage of the Maltese population suffers, are these classified as vulnerable, thus will be tested?

TONY FORMOSA (on 11/7/09)

@ D FENECH

* WITH ALL THOSE MENTIONED HAZARDS HOW IS IT THAT YOU AND I ARE STILL ALIVE?

TONY FORMOSA
TONY FORMOSA

Samuel Meilak (on 11/7/09)

Panicking is of no use. If you feel the need to look up information online I suggest you stick to http://www.who.int/en/ and http://www.cdc.gov/ , both reliable and realistic. Basic hygiene, avoiding overcrowded places (that does not mean locking yourself at home!) and seeking medical advice as soon as you notice symptoms (primarily coughing, sneezing and fever), are good things to keep in mind. Once again, however, try to remain calm. Remember that the vast majority of those infected heal without any difficulty; the mortality is extremely low (less than 0.5% of those infected!).

T. Pulis (on 11/7/09)

Milli jidher il-virus mhux f'Malta biss qed jinfirex b'rata daqshekk mgħaġġla. Ċipru li l-popolazzjoni tiegħu hija ftit ikbar minn dik ta' Malta għandu każi aktar milli għandha l-Greċja li ji bil-wisq akbar minnu mil-lat ta' popolazzjoni. Kemm Malta kif ukoll Ċipru huma ċentri turistiċi u jilqgħu ħafna turisti mir-Renju Unit, l-aktar post milqut fl-Ewropa. Biss huwa preokkupanti l-fatt li l-każijiet f'Għawdex, bil-kontra għal dawk f'Malta, ftit minnhom kellhom x'jaqsmu ma' safar.

Luisa Zammit (on 11/7/09)

Thanks Samuel, one cannot but worry even at the mere mention of the word "pandemic". Maybe I have been reading some very alarming stuff here on the net, or Im too overprotective :) How I wish I could relax and just follow basic hygiene procedures and relax and go on living normally

Julian Galea (on 11/7/09)

Do the 75 cases include the 18 that have been cured or is it 75 + 18 cured that have been infected.

Daniel Azzopardi (on 11/7/09)

Slowly but surely numbers are increasing alarmingly.
Are we really taking this issue seriously?

Samuel Meilak (on 11/7/09)

The virus may spread more during the winter months, just like normal influenza does; but it does not necessarily become more deadly. With a 10-month baby, avoiding crowded places may not be bad idea; but taking her to a 'quite' beach should not do her any harm. Good hygiene, especially washing your hands well and frequently, is also recommended.

D Fenech (on 11/7/09)

Only the vulnerable being tested means that these statistics are the tip of the ice berg.
Many Maltese are adopting a flippant ,fatalistic attitude which we are all going to regret very soon.
How about people handling food and bread in supermarkets. How about refuse collectors in shorts and nothing else. How about people coughing and sneezing and not covering their mouths. How about the trolleys in supermarkets. To mention but a few examples.

Luisa Zammit (on 11/7/09)

Will the H1 N1 virus be worse and deadly in the cold winter months..... with a ten month old baby i am getting really paranoid now. Is it safe to take her to the beach and keep her in a small paddle pool?

A(H1N1) cases now number 75

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