ABOUT 16,000 people have so far contracted the H1N1 flu in Cyprus but only several cases were serious, health officials said yesterday.

There have not been any deaths in Cyprus connected to the atypical flu strain.

The head of the health ministry’s H1N1 task force Chrystalla Hadjianastasiou said between one and two per cent of the population have fallen ill with the flu so far.

“From what appears so far, it is mostly mild,” Hadjianastasiou told reporters. A few cases exhibited serious symptoms.

“Only four (cases) involved serious breathing problems since the start of the pandemic,” she added.

Some 530 pupils have been ill with the flu – most cases were confirmed through tests as H1N1 while the rest were considered possibilities.

Around 20 teachers were reported with the flu islandwide.

The number is considered low compared to other European countries.

Hadjianastasiou reiterated that vaccinations would start on November 23 after the public is informed through the media about the high risk groups, where to go and what to do so that the project runs smoothly.

Officials have said that those groups classified as being high-risk will receive the first vaccinations in stages. These include people with a previous serious illness, medium or severe asthma, long-term pulmonary conditions, diabetes, serious heart conditions, long-term kidney conditions, serious liver insufficiency, long-term neurological illness, pregnant women, people with immunodeficiency or immunosuppression and the chronically obese.

The ministry has 30,000 doses of the vaccine, but by the time the vaccination programme starts this figure is expected to be around 50,000.

The vaccine will be provided free to the high-risk groups.