Additional youth dies after contracting H1N1

An additional youth died after contracting H1N1, a type of influenza A virus, on Sunday night.

Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) identified the deceased to Sun as a 35-year-old Maldivian woman.

She had been treated at IGMH for approximately 10 days.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) had advised to get vaccinated against the disease from Dhamanaveshi as a preventive measure. Anyone above six months is eligible to get vaccinated.

Internal medicine specialist Dr. Mohamed Ali announced the death of a youth after contracting H1N1 on January 14^th.

Speaking with Sun earlier, he said the disease is spread as a lower percentage of people are vaccinated against the virus. Therefore, he urged the public to get influenza vaccination as soon as possible.

He detailed symptoms of H1N1 as symptoms similar to that of a cold.

“In such a case, it the safest to remain at home. If showcasing symptoms, it is advisable to use a mask or remain at home till a full recovery,” he said.

Dr. Mohamed Ali said people with the virus are likely to spread the virus about two days before symptoms show up, while there is still a high chance of spreading the virus after showcasing symptoms.