ID :
67538
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 17:28
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/67538
The shortlink copeid
M'SIA IMPOSES MORE STRINGENT H1N1 CHECKS AT AIRPORTS
PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), June 24 (Bernama) -- More stringent checks have been put in place at the country's international airports to detect Influenza A (H1N1) in incoming passengers because some of them have been untruthful with their health information, Director-General of Health Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said Wednesday.
He said there had been a 400 percent increase in the number of cases in a
week because one or two undetected cases had sparked off local transmission.
"Last week, we had only 21 cases with one local transmission, but this week
we have 80 cases with 11 local transmissions. This also means that we have a gap
in the detection system.
"This rapid increase is due to those coming into the country not being
truthful to us. Those who think they have the symptoms should be truthful. This
applies especially to people coming from overseas from the affected countries,"
he said.
Dr Mohd Ismail said that beginning today, all airline passengers had to
complete a health alert card on the incoming flights and hand it to the health
authorities before proceeding for Immigration clearance.
All those entering the country must give their full details. Our teams will
also be on the lookout for passengers who do not look healthy. All cards will be
checked and those who fail to fill in all their details will be asked to do so
before they can get to the Immigration counter," he said.
Dr Mohd Ismail also said that passengers arriving from the Philippines, the
United States and Australia, where there are a large number of Influenza A
(H1N1) cases, would be scanned twice -- once when they had alighted from the
aircraft and again before they reached the Immigration counter.
"We advice those coming from these countries to undergo self-quarantine for
a few days before starting their normal routine," he said.
He also said that the national technical committee on Influenza A(H1N1),
which met here Wednesday, had also decided that infected Malaysians need not
spend the entire seven days at designated hospitals.
"They can go home after three days if they do not have fever. But they must
be on self-quarantine. This only applies to those above 18. We are trying to
minimise hospital admissions," he said.
Dr Mohd Ismail said the ministry had added on more hospitals where screening
for Influenza A(H1N1) could be carried out.
"In the next week or so, we may allow private hospitals to do the screening
provided they have the facilities. It also depends on the pandemic," he said.
Influenza A(H1N1) has so far affected 99 countries, infecting 53,110 people
and killing 232.
-- BERNAMA
He said there had been a 400 percent increase in the number of cases in a
week because one or two undetected cases had sparked off local transmission.
"Last week, we had only 21 cases with one local transmission, but this week
we have 80 cases with 11 local transmissions. This also means that we have a gap
in the detection system.
"This rapid increase is due to those coming into the country not being
truthful to us. Those who think they have the symptoms should be truthful. This
applies especially to people coming from overseas from the affected countries,"
he said.
Dr Mohd Ismail said that beginning today, all airline passengers had to
complete a health alert card on the incoming flights and hand it to the health
authorities before proceeding for Immigration clearance.
All those entering the country must give their full details. Our teams will
also be on the lookout for passengers who do not look healthy. All cards will be
checked and those who fail to fill in all their details will be asked to do so
before they can get to the Immigration counter," he said.
Dr Mohd Ismail also said that passengers arriving from the Philippines, the
United States and Australia, where there are a large number of Influenza A
(H1N1) cases, would be scanned twice -- once when they had alighted from the
aircraft and again before they reached the Immigration counter.
"We advice those coming from these countries to undergo self-quarantine for
a few days before starting their normal routine," he said.
He also said that the national technical committee on Influenza A(H1N1),
which met here Wednesday, had also decided that infected Malaysians need not
spend the entire seven days at designated hospitals.
"They can go home after three days if they do not have fever. But they must
be on self-quarantine. This only applies to those above 18. We are trying to
minimise hospital admissions," he said.
Dr Mohd Ismail said the ministry had added on more hospitals where screening
for Influenza A(H1N1) could be carried out.
"In the next week or so, we may allow private hospitals to do the screening
provided they have the facilities. It also depends on the pandemic," he said.
Influenza A(H1N1) has so far affected 99 countries, infecting 53,110 people
and killing 232.
-- BERNAMA
