Maldives Health Ministry Urges Calm as H1N1 Swine Flu Re-emerges

The Ministry of Health has said there is no need to panic over swine flu (H1N1), which has re-emerged in the Maldives, describing it as a type of flu that occurs every year. It said that because swine flu is not a new illness, people should not worry, and that anyone with symptoms should seek medical treatment. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said that since swine flu spreads every year, more than 2,000 flu patients have been treated so far, and that 70 of them have been diagnosed with H1N1. The HPA also said that in recent months, 4,000 flu patients had been tested in the Maldives, of whom 70 tested positive for H1N1. It added that in the past month alone, 4,000 patients had flu symptoms and 70 were positive for H1N1. HPA Director General Dr. Aminath Sana said the virus is the same H1N1 virus that appeared in the 2009 pandemic and has now become a seasonal flu. She said it is not a different strain or a new virus. Although it is called "swine flu," she said it is the same flu virus that has been circulating since 2009 and is not different from the flu that has been appearing every year. Dr. Aminath Sana further explained that while there was a flu pandemic in 1918, the flu currently circulating is not the same as that 1918 flu. She said it is the same as the 2009 H1N1 pandemic flu, which later became a seasonal flu, and that there is no need for panic because the virus is not new. The HPA said that because the number of flu patients has been increasing, precautions should be taken. It said the flu spreading in the country is seasonal and that if patients are not treated, it can cause serious illness. The Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) also said that the swine flu virus that has spread in India is the same H1N1 virus reported in 2009 and is now circulating as seasonal flu. He said that since this flu appears every year and is not a new virus, there is no need to panic. The ICMR said the H1N1 virus is not different from the pandemic flu that began in 2009, and because it has been circulating for a long time, people do not need to worry unnecessarily. The HPA said it is carrying out testing of flu patients in the Maldives. It said that because there is an increase in flu patients, those with symptoms should take care to avoid spreading the virus. The HPA stated that people should not panic over swine flu, but that since the flu can be dangerous for elderly people, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic illnesses or weak immunity, they should seek early medical care if they have flu symptoms. Dr. Aminath Sana emphasized that there is no need for unnecessary panic, but that people should take precautions if they have flu symptoms. She said that if patients receive treatment, the illness is not dangerous. She added that since swine flu is seasonal flu, it is spreading around the world, and because it is not a new virus, people should not panic but should take care of their health and receive treatment if necessary.