Two patients suffering from the virus H1N1 died while being treated at Mater Dei Hospital last winter. This was confirmed to The Malta Independent by the hospital’s Clinical Director, Dr Joe Zarb Adami.

Asked by this newsroom on the current situation with regard to swine flu, Dr Zarb Adami said that some 30 patients ended up receiving treatment at the Intensive Therapy Unit because of “influenza complications” last winter.

He explained that the H1N1 is the common flu which is present at the moment in Malta. “In the majority of the cases, those suffering from influenza heal and go back home but some had to be referred to ITU. Two of them died.”

Dr Zarb Adami said that this year, the flu was “particularly afflicting” for patients.

“Most of last winter’s flu is attributed to the H1N1 virus. If you speak to general practitioners, they will tell you that this year the flu was very bad.”

He explained that other countries, such as the UK, were affected very badly by this year’s wave of swine flu.

The reported cases of swine flu in the first weeks of this year were already more than double the number reported in 2015. In January, the number of cases reached 97.