Maldives prepares for sudden outbreak of Swine Flu

The state owned Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has seen a rise in the number of flu patients within the past five days, prompting the state to open up a separate flu clinic inside a school.

On Tuesday alone 473 people were treated with flu symptoms while 1,098 have been treated over the past 4 days.

However the IGMH had not released the number of people who tested positive for the H1N1 virus following the sudden rise in the number of patients on Tuesday.

In order to prevent the numbers rising further, the Maldives Health sector has now opened up flu clinics in three major hospitals across Maldives and all necessary facilities are being put in place to treat patients.

The Maldives government on Monday, also asked schools and colleges to remain shut due to the sudden outbreak.

“Schools across the country will be closed for the next three days,” the Education Ministry said in a statement.

Colleges will also remain closed for the next one week.

The Maldives National University graduation ceremony scheduled for next week has also been postponed.

Meanwhile, several inter-school sports tournaments have also been postponed.

The Health Ministry has also issued a travel advisory, asking the general public not to travel unless absolutely necessary, as it could help the virus to proliferate.

The domestic travel advisory was issued after the government’s decision to close schools across the country.

(Pic courtesy Haveeru)