Up to 16 cases of flu being reported weekly

Between 12 and 16 cases of influenza are being reported every week by 22 general practitioners around the island who are taking part in a sentinel surveillance exercise.

Disease Surveillance Unit principal medical officer Tanya Fenech Melillo told The Times the sentinel service started in October and the 22 GPrs reported cases of influenza according to European Commission specifications.

"Obviously there are more doctors in the community but this is enough for us to be able to monitor the activity of influenza and we will be able to tell if an epidemic is starting in Malta," Dr Fenech Melillo said.

She said data collected by the Disease Surveillance Unit was sent to the European Influenza Surveillance Scheme. This, together with data from the other countries members of the scheme, is used to monitor influenza activity in Europe. "This helps to reduce the burden of disease associated with influenza in Europe and provides timely information on influenza activity.

Influenza experts all over the world are keeping their eyes open on the worldwide influenza situation amid fears of a pandemic. The 1918-1919 Spanish Flu outbreak had killed up to 40 million people around the world. The experts fear that the H5Ni strain of the bird flu can mutate into a new virus that would be spread from person to person.

Dr Fenech Melillo explained that the influenza virus had the ability to change its genetic makeup. She said there were three types of influenza - A, B and C.

Influenza C only causes mild diseases and has not been associated with widespread outbreaks. However, A and B cause epidemics almost every year.

The unit has now obtained kits to be able to test if a person is suffering from influenza, as well as the type.

Every year people are urged to take the influenza jab. But no vaccine gives 100 per cent immunity. However, Dr Fenech Melillo said that if an immunised person who took the jab contracted influenza he would only get it mildly. She also said that for a person to be a carrier of the influenza virus he has to get influenza himself. The virus is spread when a person coughs and sneezes.

Dr Fenech Melillo said a pandemic plan for Malta was drawn up by a group of people appointed by the Health Minister.