MAN HOSPITALISED WITH SUSPECTED INFLUENZA A (H1N1) AFTER RETURN FROM THAILAND

IPOH (Malaysia), May 13 (Bernama) -- A 51-year-old man who visited
Thailand over the
weekend was admitted to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in this northern
city Wednesday after he
developed symptoms similar to those of Influenza A (H1N1) which broke out in
Mexico and had cases reported in several other countries.

The man was admitted to the hospital at 12.40pm as he was found to be
suffering from flu, cough, fever and diarrhoea when he sought treatment at the
Taiping Hospital yesterday, Perak Health Committee chairman Dr Mah Hang Soon
said.

He said that as a precautionary measure, the hospital conducted several
tests to ascertain the cause of his illness.

"His blood samples have been sent to the Institute for Medical Research in
Kuala Lumpur and the results are expected to be known tomorrow," he told
reporters at his office, here.

Dr Mah said Malaysia was free of the Influenza A (H1N1) disease but
precautionary measures had to be taken.

He said the man had gone to Thailand on Friday and was in that country for
three days.

Dr Mah said a medical examination would be conducted on the man's relatives
and acquaintances who had come into contact with him since his return from
Thailand.

"This is not to frighten the people but I ask them to immediately go for a
check-up at any medical centre if they have symptoms similar to those of the
disease," he said.

Previously, several cases of people in Sarawak, Penang and Selangor with
similar symptoms have been confirmed as negative.
-- BERNAMA