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Second woman's death unrelated to swine flu, hospital insists

Eydhafushi Hospital on Thursday insisted that the death of a 59 year old woman was unrelated to the H1N1 epidemic.

Hospital spokesperson Ahmed Waheed said the woman had been suffering from fever when she was admitted at the hospital three days ago, but added that the fever had subsided before she passed away.

Waheed said the woman had a prevailing heart condition which is believed to be the cause of death.

He further stressed that the woman had not exhibited any swine flu related symptoms before her death early Thursday.

"She did not have fever when she passed. She did not die of swine flu," Waheed said.

He however admitted that fever cases were surging across the island but stressed that no serious case had been reported thus far.

Amid the rapid spread of the H1N1 virus, a 51 year old woman died of the swine flu on Wednesday at the state-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

IGMH remains unavailable for comment, but the woman is believed to be the second swine flu victim as a 26 year old man who died early March had tested positive for the virus.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) on Wednesday revealed that the total number of confirmed cases positive for the H1N1 virus have risen to over 80.

HPA said that out of those tested for the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as the swine flu, 82 have been confirmed positive to the virus.

Statistics show that IGMH has tested 473 people for the virus as of Tuesday, with 118 tested by privately-run ADK hospital.

Hulhumale had tested another 162 individuals while the Villimale Hospital tested 145.
Government along with private health care providers have set up multiple flu clinic throughout the capital and suburbs to provide round the clock service.

Public schools, universities and private colleges have suspended classes while the authorities have urged people in the Atolls against travelling to the capital.