The Education Ministry yesterday quashed rumours circulating among teachers and parents that the scholastic year was going to start in January instead of September because of swine flu.

Malta Union of Teachers president John Bencini confirmed that the rumour was doing the rounds but added that the union had already sought to clarify the summer chitchat.

A spokesman for the Education Ministry said the rumour was nothing more than that and that it was "absolutely not true".

"All government primary schools, without exception, will start school on September 28 as planned. Secondary schools will start as usual on October 1," the spokesman said.

The A (H1N1) infection is not a particularly severe disease for those who are healthy. Malta confirmed 244 cases of swine flu and five patients are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

An 82-year-old woman was the first swine flu-related death in Malta on Monday night. The woman succumbed to complications related to respiratory problems and chronic cardiac conditions.

The government is only testing those considered to be in the vulnerable groups: pregnant women, children under the age of five and the elderly, especially those with chronic diseases and respiratory ailments.

The Health Department warned such people to contact their family doctor as soon as they recognised influenza symptoms.