INFLUENZA A(H1N1) SPREADS TO THREE MORE COUNTRIES

KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 (Bernama)-- Three more countries, Costa Rica, France,
and South Korea have confirmed detecting influenza A(H1N1)cases in their
respective countries, bringing the total number of countries affected by the
pandemic to 16.

The total number of cases throughout the world so far stands at 658 with 17
deaths. The number of cases inceased by 291 overnight.

Health director-general Dr Ismail Merican said the World Health
Organisation (WHO) in its latest report on the pandemic informed that 397 cases
with 16 deaths happened in Mexico while 160 cases with one death was reported in
the United States.

Other countries reporting positive laboratory tests for the influenza
A(H1N1) virus but without any deaths were Canada with 51 cases, United Kingdom
(15), Spain (13), Germany (six), New Zealand (four), Israel (three), France
(two) and Austria, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Denmark, Netherlands, South Korea,
Switzerland, one case each.

"WHO is maintaining the pandemic alert level at Phase Five (highest is six)
but did not recommend travel or trade restrictions or the need to close borders
for any country," Dr Ismail said in a statement here Sunday.

Dr Ismail said visitors from the countries affected would be screened at
entry points in the country and be issued health declaration forms and health
alert cards.

"So far the number of people screened and required further examination
totalled 238 cases but all were found to be healthy and did not require to be
referred to hospitals," he said.

Malaysians experiencing symptoms like fever, cough, colds and sore throat
are advised to defer any overseas trips and those coming down with such symptoms
while abroad should quickly seek treatment, he added.

--BERNAMA