MALAYSIA PUSHING FOR WHO TO ADOPT EXIT SCREENING

BY Alan Ting

PUTRAJAYA, May 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is pushing for the World Health
Organisation (WHO) to adopt a requirement for affected countries to implement
exit screening to stop the spread of the new Influenza A disease, following
concerns that a second wave of the H1N1 disease can be more deadly.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said currently WHO did not make exit
screening mandatory to contain the spread of the disease and this had created
tremendous pressure on other countries that were not affected by the outbreak to
remain so.

WHO is not recommending travel restrictions following the outbreak, but
has advised individuals who are ill to delay their travel plans and returning
travellers who fall ill, to seek appropriate medical care.

The issue of exit screening was first brought up during the Asean Plus Three
Health Ministers Meeting in Bangkok last week, but some countries were against
making it mandatory as it would have an impact on travel and trade, especially
at a time when many countries are facing an economic downturn, with huge costs
involved.

"If we can have travellers from affected countries screened before they are
allowed to travel out, this will help us to contain the spread of such virus to
other places," he told Bernama here before leaving for the 62nd WHO General
Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

However, while on transit in London, Liow confirmed Malaysia's first
confirmed case of influenza A(H1N1) case involving a 21-year-old student who
returned to Malaysia two days ago and is now quarantined at the Sungai Buloh
Hospital near here.

The WHO general assembly, scheduled for May 18-22, will discuss a number of
public health issues, including pandemic influenza preparedness, sharing of
information on the influenza virus and access to vaccines and other benefits.

Liow said Malaysia and some other countries would push for WHO to adopt
exit screening as a compulsory measure in the case of any outbreak in any
country.

"We are pushing for this during the WHO general assembly in Geneva this
weekend. Even at the Asean Plus Three Health Ministers Meeting in Bangkok (last
week), not all countries agreed to it. But we hope WHO will pay attention to
this," he said.

Apart from that, Liow said Malaysia would get the latest information on the
H1N1 virus from WHO, as well as on the development of new vaccines while looking
into stockpiling more anti-viral drugs for the country.

"We would like to bring to WHO's attention on the need for equal
distribution of anti-viral drugs as well as other stockpiles as we are
worried about the second wave of attack," he said.

Experts have said that the Influenza A(H1NI) outbreak is similar to the 1918
influenza pandemic as the viruses are similar and mutated.

The 1918 influenza pandemic, which killed tens of millions of people, began
mild and returned within six months in a much more lethal form.

"We've got to be prepared for this second, or even possible third wave while
the government has decided to take all the precautionary measures as a long-term
or permanent solution to the influenza outbreak," Liow said.

WHO said the new H1N1 flu virus could still mutate into a more virulent form
and spark an influenza pandemic that could be expected to circle the globe up to
three times.

The world health body has warned that the impact of any pandemic would vary,
as a virus that causes only mild illness in countries with a strong healthcare
system can become "devastating" in those with a weak healthcare system, shortage
of drugs and poorly equipped hospitals.

According to WHO, the H1N1 viral infection, commonly referred to as swine
flu, "appears to be more contagious than seasonal influenza and nearly the
world's whole population lacks immunity to the new disease".

So far, the virus shows no signs of sustained person-to-person spread
outside North America.

Some 6,497 people have been infected in 33 countries, according to WHO's
tally on Friday with the hardest hit being Mexico with 60 deaths so far.
-- BERNAMA