The H1 N1 pandemic started more than a year ago at
the end of March in Mexico with Malta having it's first
positive cases on the first of July.
Since July 2009, we had 913 persons who were
positive to Hl Nl with 261 cases hospitalised (207
with H1 N1 and 54 with Influenza A) and from these 8
cases needed intensive care. In all, 5 died as a result
of this pandemic locally. Over 91 ,471 residents took
the vaccine and 2,700 antiviral courses have been
dispensed through the government pharmacies.
In retrospect one would easily conclude that a massive
amount of money has been spent on a minor threat
but judgment using hindsight is not appropriate when
dealing with the potential risk of a public health threat.
The real question that needs to be asked is what are
the aims and objectives for this country if the threat of
a novel influenza virus emerged and was spreading all over the world? And where the objectives for the H1 N1
strategy achieved or not?peer-reviewe
