23 flu patients currently admitted and being treated at health centers, says Health Protection Agency (HPA).

HPA’s statistics show that 176 patients, out of 477, have tested positive for H1N1, confirming that an additional seven patients have tested positive on Wednesday.

While the virus is rapidly increasing across the country, on Monday, 425 people had gone for consultation at the two flu clinics set up in Malé by Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and ADK Hospital; 242 patients were seen at the IGMH flu clinic, with 108 people at the ADK flu clinic. The same day, a total of 809 patients were seen at the other flu clinics set up across the nation.

Statistics show that most patients were seen last Thursday, with a total of 1551 patients seeking consultation across the country.

HPA has noted that most of the patients who had tested positive of the H1N1 influenza virus have recovered.

Less than 12 hours after confirming the spread of the virus across the country, downplaying it to the public saying there was no cause for worry, authorities revealed that the it was increasing rapidly on March 13, declaring national alert level atPhase Three.

Academic institutions, including grade schools, colleges, and universities, were closed to control spreading, with sports' associations postponing all scheduled event.

• Citizens have been advised to exercise extreme caution and to stay away from crowded areas.

On Thursday, Ministry of Education announced that school sessions will commence on Sunday, while the Asian Central Zone Men’s Volleyball Championship began on Wednesday.