ID :
59668
Fri, 05/08/2009 - 18:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/59668
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIAN WORRIES WITH SECOND WAVE OF H1N1
BY D. ARUL RAJOO
BANGKOK, May 8 (Bernama) -- While Asean and particularly Malaysia is fully
prepared to deal with the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, it wants people to be
more alert and take necessary precautions as it's still concerned with a
possible second wave that could be more deadly.
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, however, said there was still no
need to issue travel bans to any of the 24 affected countries but individuals
could delay their visits unless they were very important.
He said as the World Health Organisation (WHO) had informed that the virus
could become a pandemic, it was crucial for individuals to use protection masks
or impose self-quanrantine if they are sick.
"If the second wave occurs, the virus could spread fast like the Spanish flu
in 1918. That was also a H1N1 virus and killed millions in the second wave. But
the current one is not a pure H1N1 as in 1918 but a mixed one that is mild and
we need to study it further," he said.
Speaking to reporters after attending the Special Asean +3 Health Ministers
Meeting on the H1N1 threat here Friday, Liow said Malaysia was well prepared to
deal with the new virus as it had mechanism in place, including a stockpile of
two million doses of anti-viral drugs, the highest in the region.
He said so far the authorities in Malaysia had tested 32 cases and all were
free of the virus.
The latest WHO updates showed that there are 2371 cases of H1N1 infection in
24 countries, with Mexico, believed to be the source of the outbreak, reporting
1,112 cases, including 42 deaths.
On the Joint Ministerial Statement that touched on exit screening, Liow said
instead of banning people from travelling or doing screening at cross borders,
the ministers agreed to contain the spread from the source of outbreak.
"We will go to the community level of locality to contain, including
quarantine. It will not involve the entire nation," he said.
Liow said Asean countries are well prepared to address the current influenza
threat based on their experiences dealing with SARS and avian flu that rocked
this region in the past few years.
Currently, most of the countries in the world have screening at entry
points.
Philippines Health Secretary Dr Francisco T. Duque, who chaired the meeting
which was also attended by Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan and
representatives from WHO, said they agreed to strengthen cooperation to protect
the two billion population of the 13 countries.
The focus would be on surveillance, effective response and risk
communications for the public to reduce the spread of the disease and mitigate
the adverse impact on individuals and the region.
Duque said they also agreed to share information, chronology, resources,
laboratory facilities, but there were no discussion on increasing the 500,000
doses of anti-viral drugs currently being stockpiled in Singapore.
-- BERNAMA
BANGKOK, May 8 (Bernama) -- While Asean and particularly Malaysia is fully
prepared to deal with the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, it wants people to be
more alert and take necessary precautions as it's still concerned with a
possible second wave that could be more deadly.
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai, however, said there was still no
need to issue travel bans to any of the 24 affected countries but individuals
could delay their visits unless they were very important.
He said as the World Health Organisation (WHO) had informed that the virus
could become a pandemic, it was crucial for individuals to use protection masks
or impose self-quanrantine if they are sick.
"If the second wave occurs, the virus could spread fast like the Spanish flu
in 1918. That was also a H1N1 virus and killed millions in the second wave. But
the current one is not a pure H1N1 as in 1918 but a mixed one that is mild and
we need to study it further," he said.
Speaking to reporters after attending the Special Asean +3 Health Ministers
Meeting on the H1N1 threat here Friday, Liow said Malaysia was well prepared to
deal with the new virus as it had mechanism in place, including a stockpile of
two million doses of anti-viral drugs, the highest in the region.
He said so far the authorities in Malaysia had tested 32 cases and all were
free of the virus.
The latest WHO updates showed that there are 2371 cases of H1N1 infection in
24 countries, with Mexico, believed to be the source of the outbreak, reporting
1,112 cases, including 42 deaths.
On the Joint Ministerial Statement that touched on exit screening, Liow said
instead of banning people from travelling or doing screening at cross borders,
the ministers agreed to contain the spread from the source of outbreak.
"We will go to the community level of locality to contain, including
quarantine. It will not involve the entire nation," he said.
Liow said Asean countries are well prepared to address the current influenza
threat based on their experiences dealing with SARS and avian flu that rocked
this region in the past few years.
Currently, most of the countries in the world have screening at entry
points.
Philippines Health Secretary Dr Francisco T. Duque, who chaired the meeting
which was also attended by Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan and
representatives from WHO, said they agreed to strengthen cooperation to protect
the two billion population of the 13 countries.
The focus would be on surveillance, effective response and risk
communications for the public to reduce the spread of the disease and mitigate
the adverse impact on individuals and the region.
Duque said they also agreed to share information, chronology, resources,
laboratory facilities, but there were no discussion on increasing the 500,000
doses of anti-viral drugs currently being stockpiled in Singapore.
-- BERNAMA
