100 MORE ISOLATION WARDS FOR H1N1 PATIENTS AT STATE HOSPITAL

KUCHING (Malaysia), July 9 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak General Hospital (SGH)
will make available 100 more isolation wards for Influenza A(H1N1) patients
starting Thursday following the opening of a new block ahead of its scheduled
operation in September, Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan said Wednesday.

Dr Chan, who is also the East Malaysia state of Sarawak's state disaster
relief committee chairman, said another 85 isolations wards had been designated
in the city's various private medical centres to complement the existing four at
the SGH.

"Although the H1N1 is a serious communicable disease, it can be treated and
the state Health Department has provided stocks of 50,000 Tamiflu doses, 200,000
face masks, 20,000 medical gowns, 2,000 suits and plenty of surgical aprons for
the general hospital," he told a media conference here.

In view of the expected influx of visitors worldwide to the three-day
Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), to be held at the Sarawak Cultural
Village in Santubong from Friday, he said, free masks and screenings would be
provided at the venue by the organiser, Sarawak Tourism Board.

He said the department were sending health personnel to brief hoteliers,
tour operators and taxi drivers on how to handle H1N1 cases to minimise local
transmission, while those with flu symptoms and low immune system were advised
to stay away from the annual event.

As of Wednesday, Dr Chan said, Sarawak recorded two new cases, adding the
tally to 18 when a 12-year-old girl from Miri and a 32-year-old woman here were
tested positive for the swine flu.

He said the local girl, who was admitted to the Miri hospital today, felt
unwell after coming back from Brunei through the Sungei Tujuh check point on
Sunday while the woman, also a local, returned here from London via Kuala Lumpur
and Sibu on Friday.

"So far there are no closure of schools in Sarawak," he added.
-- BERNAMA