MORE H1N1 LABS TO BE SET UP NATIONWIDE

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry will set up more
influenza A (H1N1) laboratories in hospitals nationwide as the virus is
spreading rapidly in the community.

Its minister, Liow Tiong Lai said the laboratories at the Institute of
Medical Research (IMR), the Sungai Buloh Hospital and Kota Kinabalu were already
used to full capacity.

The ministry will also provide H1N1 laboratories in government health
clinics and private clinics to prevent congestion at government hospitals, he
told reporters after visiting the Sungai Buloh Hospital here Wednesday.

He said more doctors and medical staff would be deployed as the number of
outpatients at government hospitals had increased threefold to 800 daily.

Liow said he had asked the Sungai Buloh Hospital to set up a special and
separate treatment area for outpatients with influenza, flu and fever symptoms.

"I want to urge the people not to panic and worry if their children are down
with high fever as more hospitals have been designated to deal with H1N1," he
added.

He said 22 private hospitals had been supplied with the influenza anti-viral
medicines to treat HIN1 patients and suspected cases.
-- BERNAMA