Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has activated operations at its flu clinic as Umrah pilgrims return to the Maldives.

In a statement, IGMH said the flu clinic has been established to manage patients presenting with flu-like symptoms.

Individuals seeking treatment are required to first report to the Emergency Room (ER) triage.

After obtaining a token through the QueBee system, triage staff will assess patients and direct them either to the ER or to the flu clinic, depending on their condition.

The hospital noted that medical consultations and phlebotomy services will be available daily from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm at Room No. 10.

Health authorities observe that this period typically sees a rise in respiratory infections each year, coinciding with the return of pilgrims from Umrah.

Meanwhile, statistics released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show an increase in dengue fever cases compared to the previous month.

Alongside dengue, authorities have also reported a rise in seasonal flu and influenza cases nationwide.