Local physician Dr Redge van Rensburg acknowledged that swine flu made its arrival in Middelburg two weeks ago, attesting to seeing several cases and severe illness in patients.

He assured residents that there is no cause for panic as far as the new SARS-CoV-2 subvariant N.B1.8.1 is concerned.

According to Van Rensburg, no cases of the new subvariant have been reported locally, as well as the fact that the new variant will likely present itself similarly to the average flu, as far as symptoms are concerned.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, the new variant has not been detected in South Africa, although testing throughout the country is limited.

N.B1.8.1 was first detected in Asia in January, and has been designated as a variant under monitoring by the World Health Organisation.

It has since spread to 22 countries, but the public health risk associated with the new variant is considered low.