ID :
60875
Sat, 05/16/2009 - 18:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/60875
The shortlink copeid
FIRST CASE IN M`SIA: DON'T PANIC, PUBLIC TOLD
PUTRAJAYA, May 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysians were Friday advised not to panic
following the first confirmed influenza A(H1N1) case in the country, involving a
21-year-old male student who returned from the United States two days ago.
Acting Health Minister Kong Cho Ha said the ministry had taken
precautionary measures to check the spread of the viral disease, including
placing the five family members of the infected student under home quarantine
although none of them had shown any symptoms of the disease.
He said those having direct contact with the patient including the hospital
staff examining him were placed under observation.
"The ministry with the cooperation of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is contacting
all other passengers on the same flight to be examined to see whether they have
been infected," Kong told reporters here.
Kong, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister, is acting for
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai who left for Geneva, Switzerland Thursday night
to attend the World Health Organisation (WHO) General Assembly.
Friday morning while on transit in London, Liow confirmed Malaysia's first
influenza A(H1N1) case who is being given anti-viral treatment at the Sungai
Buloh Hospital near Kuala Lumpur and is in stable condition.
Kong said there were 199 passengers and crew members on the MAS flight MH091
from Newark, USA but not all might be in Malaysia now as the plane was also on
transit at KLIA.
Kong also reiterated the Health Ministry's advice for the passengers who
disembarked in Malaysia to call the ministry at 03-8881 0200 or 03-8881 0300, or
go to any hospital, clinic or health office for follow-up action.
Asked whether any of the crew members had been quarantined, Kong said: "MAS
was immediately told about the confirmed case and would know what to do best. It
is a responsible airline."
Asked why the virus was not detected during screening at the airport but two
days after the student returned, he said the virus did not cause fever
immediately.
"It has an incubation period for the fever to come out and then only it
can be detected by the thermal scanner," he explained.
Asked whether wearing a mask was necessary now to protect the public from
the disease, Kong said: "We do not want the people to panic, but it is good if
they practise good hygiene like washing their hands and seek treatment
immediately if they have fever, cough, sore throat or other symptoms of the
disease."
He said the ministry was in the process of informing WHO about the confirmed
case in Malaysia, while preventive and control measures at the country's
entry/exit points were ongoing and the public provided with daily updates on the
disease.
-- BERNAMA
following the first confirmed influenza A(H1N1) case in the country, involving a
21-year-old male student who returned from the United States two days ago.
Acting Health Minister Kong Cho Ha said the ministry had taken
precautionary measures to check the spread of the viral disease, including
placing the five family members of the infected student under home quarantine
although none of them had shown any symptoms of the disease.
He said those having direct contact with the patient including the hospital
staff examining him were placed under observation.
"The ministry with the cooperation of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) is contacting
all other passengers on the same flight to be examined to see whether they have
been infected," Kong told reporters here.
Kong, who is also Housing and Local Government Minister, is acting for
Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai who left for Geneva, Switzerland Thursday night
to attend the World Health Organisation (WHO) General Assembly.
Friday morning while on transit in London, Liow confirmed Malaysia's first
influenza A(H1N1) case who is being given anti-viral treatment at the Sungai
Buloh Hospital near Kuala Lumpur and is in stable condition.
Kong said there were 199 passengers and crew members on the MAS flight MH091
from Newark, USA but not all might be in Malaysia now as the plane was also on
transit at KLIA.
Kong also reiterated the Health Ministry's advice for the passengers who
disembarked in Malaysia to call the ministry at 03-8881 0200 or 03-8881 0300, or
go to any hospital, clinic or health office for follow-up action.
Asked whether any of the crew members had been quarantined, Kong said: "MAS
was immediately told about the confirmed case and would know what to do best. It
is a responsible airline."
Asked why the virus was not detected during screening at the airport but two
days after the student returned, he said the virus did not cause fever
immediately.
"It has an incubation period for the fever to come out and then only it
can be detected by the thermal scanner," he explained.
Asked whether wearing a mask was necessary now to protect the public from
the disease, Kong said: "We do not want the people to panic, but it is good if
they practise good hygiene like washing their hands and seek treatment
immediately if they have fever, cough, sore throat or other symptoms of the
disease."
He said the ministry was in the process of informing WHO about the confirmed
case in Malaysia, while preventive and control measures at the country's
entry/exit points were ongoing and the public provided with daily updates on the
disease.
-- BERNAMA
