MINISTER IRKED BY DOCTORS WHO FAILED TO DETECT DENGUE SYMPTOMS EARLY

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai Thursday
expressed regret and anger over failure of doctors to detect or diagnose
symptoms of dengue fever, early.

"I am certainly angry with doctors who failed to detect dengue fever early
because the tropical disease has been in the country for a long time.

"By right, doctors who are trained here should be able to detect and
diagnose the dengue fever symptoms early," he told reporters when referring to a
statement Wednesday by director general of Health Dr Mohd Ismail Merican stating
that the government had lost the fight against dengue.

Dr Ismail had blamed doctors in clinics and private hospitals for failing to
detect and report dengue cases to the Health Ministry, early.

This year, 57 have died of the disease.

Though overall dengue cases had dropped, Liow expressed regret over the
number of deaths and added that at least 50 percent of such deaths could have
been avoided if they were detected early.

"This is a disease that can be controlled and prevented. So, there is no
reason why it is still posing a serious danger to lives. Most of the cases that
came to hospitals were late cases," he said.

Liow who earlier witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding
between Guardian and University Kebangsaan Malaysia to provide Health Science
Faculty students training at Guardian outlets, said the cabinet viewed the
dengue menace very seriously and wanted the Health Ministry to take pro-active
measures to overcome the disease.

He warned that private hospitals and clinics that failed to report dengue
cases, faced stern action, including RM10,000 fine and two years' jail.
(US$1=RM3.49)
-- BERNAMA