The government is likely to raise its H1N1 alert to level 3 following the recent increase of swine flu cases across the country. Swine flu cases today rose to 194 as 31 fresh people were detected position, Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) sources said.

"The country was now at alert level-2 but the level could be raised to 3 soon," Senior Scientific Officer of the IEDCR Mustaque Hossain said at a seminar on swine flu today. The seminar was organised by the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). Most of the cases were mild and the infected people are receiving treatment at home. Only two of them have been admitted to hospital with little complications, IEDCR sources said.

However, there are reports that private hospitals have refused to treat swine flu patients showing their staff's lack of expertise in treating such patients. In order to prevent the virus from spreading, the World Health Organisation has suggested people to keep over one-arm-length distance from an infected person, avoid crowded places, eat nutritious food and drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep and rest.

The international organisation also requested people to avoid shaking hands or hugging and spitting in public, and not to take medicines without consulting a physician. It advised an infected person to stay home and limit contact with others as much as possible, take rest and plenty of liquid and seek medical advice. WHO earlier estimated that as many as two billion people -- nearly one-third of the world's population -- could be infected over the next two years.