A third prisoner has been hospitalised after suffering flu symptoms, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said today.

One was admitted on Sunday and another on Monday and both were treated at the ITU. One of them died yesterday and an autopsy is being held today. The second is in a critical but stable condition.

Mr Abela said the third patient, who suffers asthma, was admitted late yesterday at the Infectious Disease Unit. Tests are being carried out to establish whether he is suffering the flu. His condition is stable.

The minister said another eight prison inmates, already seen earlier this week, were examined once more at their request this morning. One had the flu but the others were cleared.

The minister referred to a PN press conference yesterday and insisted that the government had nothing to hide and the prisoners were given treatment right from the outset.

He expressed his condolences to the family of the prisoner who died.

He said that on Sunday morning this prisoner did not turn up for the roll call. Warders went into his cell and found he had respiratory problems. A doctor immediately sent him to hospital, fearing a heart attack. He was placed in intensive care and, as a precautionary measure in line with normal practice, a Magisterial inquiry was called. The prisoner died yesterday morning and an autopsy will be held.

Meanwhile on Monday another prisoner with similar symptoms was admitted to ITU, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

A doctor and a number of nurses who work at the prisons started testing the other prisons and, on realising that this could be a case of flu, contacted the Health Department. The sick patients were treated and isolated and vaccination was offered to prisoners and staff.

The vaccination had also been offered in November, but only 96 prisoners out of prison population of 580 took it. This week another 39 took the vaccination.

Mr Abela said the situation will continue to be closely monitored by doctors, but the situation is under control.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health Chris Fearne said the flu found at the prison was the same as the community at large  - Influenza A H1N1, formerly known as swine flu but now the most common seasonal flu virus in Europe. At the prison there was a higher risk of contraction because the people were in close proximity.

Charmaine Gauci, head of the health promotion directorate, said the sick prisoners were treated with Tamilflu anti viral,.

Dr Fearne said that globally, the mortality rate from the flu is up to 10 people per 100,000 of those who contracted the flu.

He said any member of the public could call at a health centre for free vaccination.