Melbourne Storm skipper Cameron Smith believes concerns over the swine flu have gone over the top despite Brisbane Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt becoming the second NRL player to succumb to the virus.

The Storm were forced to leave Sika Manu at home for Saturday's clash with South Sydney in Perth after the forward displayed flu-like symptoms earlier in the week.

Smith had his own brush with the virus, having been placed in 72-hour quarantine after it was revealed his Queensland Origin teammate Ben Hannant had contracted swine flu.

But Smith said the Storm were now treating the H1N1 virus like any other flu, with players sent straight to the doctor if they displayed any symptoms.

"Personally, and I know most of the boys are the same, we are just treating it like the normal flu," Smith said in Perth on Thursday.

"I know there's been a lot of beat-up about it and it is a serious thing, a lot of people have died from it around the world.

"But if you get on top of it quickly you can get a hold of it.

"We've got medical staff 24/7 so we've just been notified that if you do feel a bit crook that you go see him straight away and get it sorted out.

"None of the boys have felt like they've had the flu, we've just had the normal blocked nose or a little bit of a sore throat but that's not of any concern for swine flu at all.

"The docs have explained that if you are going to have swine flu then you are going to feel quite lethargic and have the normal aches and pains that you have when you have the flu.

"None of the boys have felt like that at all.

"We've had plenty of energy.

"The doctors are pretty certain no one's going to go down sick over here or have swine flu at all.

"It's got out of control a little bit, the media's beat it up a little bit."

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