Some two to three people are admitted to Mater Dei Hospital every day suffering from pneumonia, and the number of patients is expected to double as the temperature drops, respiratory physician Josef Micallef said.

He was speaking at Mater De, a day before the world marks Pneumonia Day and different organisations around the world come together to raise awareness and demand action in the fight against the infection of the lungs.

Dr Micallef said there were days where eight people were admitted to hospital with the condition.

The incidence of the lung infection in Malta is similar to that in other European countries where it has an eight to 10 per cent mortality rate.

Most of those admitted at Mater Dei are aged over 65 and there is only one fatality below the age of 50 every year - usually because the patient sought medical attention too late.

Although pneumonia is most common in children under five years and those aged over 75, people who are bedridden or suffer from conditions like asthma, diabetes, and pulmonary diseases have a higher risk of contracting it.