The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division (EDCD) of the Department of Health Services (DoHS) said that at least five people have been infected with influenza ´A´ virus which is also known as swine flu, since January, this year.

The EDCD, which is responsible for taking measures to prevent the spread of the disease, however, said there is no need to panic, as the virus (H1N1) is a common and seasonal flu. "Swine flu is seasonal flu. It becomes active during winter season," said Dr Baburam Marasini, director at EDCD. He informed that four persons had died and over 300 had been infected with virus in the year 2014.

According to Dr Marasini, fatality rate of the virus is less than one percent. He claims that the infection of H1N1 virus does not need to be reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). "We have to report even a single case of cholera to the World Health Organization (WHO) but do not need to repot cases of swine flu as it is a common flu," added Dr Marasini.

He said common symptoms of influenza A, include fever, sore throat, muscle pain, severe headache, weakness, fatigue and coughing.