OPERATIONS ROOM ACTIVATED TO MONITOR SWINE FLU

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry's disease control
division has activated its operations room to monitor the swine flu situation.

Director-General of Health Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the ministry would
work with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to ensure that proactive measures
were taken to protect the people's health.

Besides that, he said, all medical practitioners, including those in the
private sector who are treating cases with symptoms of influenza-like illness,
severe pneumonia and had visited Mexico, California or Texas after April 17,
should inform the district health office immediately for preventive and control
measures.

"The ministry is also filtering those entering the country or Malaysians who
have visited Mexico, California or Texas after April 17, for signs of being
infected by the swine flu," he said in a statement here Sunday.

He added that press statements would be issued from time to time, on the
situation, as well as measures taken by the government to control and prevent
the disease.

Dr Mohd Ismail also advised the public to heed whatever advice given by the
government, adding that further information on the disease could be obtained by
contacting 03-88810200 or 03-88810300, or visiting the ministry's official
website at www.moh.gov.my.

Meanwhile in CHINA, Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said Malaysians were not
prevented from travelling to Mexico but should exercise caution.

"My advice is that unless they absolutely need to go to Mexico for work,
they should wait a while until the health situation stabilised," she told
reporters after a travel mart session at Guangzhou Sunday.

So far, the swine flu in Mexico has claimed 62 lives and WHO has confirmed
that the deaths were caused by the H1N1, which has never been detected before,
and combines genetic material from pigs, birds, and humans.

According to the latest reports from a news agency, the disease is said to
be making its way to the United States, with WHO worrying that it would spread
around the world.
-- BERNAMA