A holiday in Malta by British tourist Nina Coxall to celebrate her wedding anniversary and birthday ended in disaster when her hotel manager asked her not to leave her room because of fears she had swine flu.

Mrs Coxall believed she got the flu early last week when she started suffering from a headache and nausea. But she mistook the symptoms as morning sickness. On Friday Mr Coxall realised his wife was running a high temperature. She spent Friday and most of Saturday in bed but she felt well enough to go out on Sunday.

"That is why I was so surprised to be told I was not going to be served food or drink in public areas and that I should return to my room," she said.

"I felt humiliated, especially since I did not have any symptoms and was feeling well," she said.

The measure was taken by The Palace Hotel, in Sliema, to protect staff and other guests, although a few hours later Mrs Coxall was declared non-contagious by a doctor. She was never diagnosed with swine flu.

The hotel has defended its action to ask Mrs Coxall to go up to her room. Operations manager Jonathan Pisani said it was done to ensure staff and other guests were not exposed to the virus.

Full story:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090811/local/suspected-swine-flu-tourist-asked-to-stay-in-her-room