M'SIAN GOVT TO LAUNCH LARGE-SCALE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON H1N1

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government will launch a
large-scale public awareness campaign on influenza A(H1N1) beginning this week
to educate the public on the pandemic in view of the worsening scenario in the
country.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday the government would also make
available anti-viral medicine for the public at hospitals and clinics
nationwide.

He said the decisions were made after consultation with Health Minister
Liow Tiong Lai and Director-General of Health Dr Ismail Merican on ways to
contain the spread of the pandemic locally.

"The most effective measure is through public education, that is, by
educating the public through the provision of guidelines.

"Hence, a large-scale public awareness campaign will be held to provide such
guidelines," he told reporters after opening the National Heart Institute's
(IJN) new building her.

To date, the pandemic has infected 1,983 people and killed 32 locally.

The prime minister also advised those who have fever to take extra
precaution and refrain from going to public places.

"If one has a fever, the best thing to do is to rest at home until one
recovers because if one goes out, others may be infected. Even in the house,
they are advised to wear masks to avoid spreading the virus to the family
members," he said.

He added that the anti-viral stock would be increased from the current 10
per cent of the population t o 20 per cent, involving an additional
allocation of RM20 million (US$5.7 million).

"The Health Ministry, through the hospitals and clinics, will supply the
anti-viral drug more widely so that more people can get the injections to help
prevent a more virulent strain of the viruse," he said.

Najib said the government would not impose any travel ban as this was a
global pandemic.

Meanwhile, Liow told reporters later that the ministry was planning to rope
in private medical practitioners to help contain the spread of the disease.

Advising the people not to panic, he said: "The important thing is to
control the situation together by maintaining personal hygiene and taking
certain steps like self-quarantine, social distancing and getting immediate
treatment for the symptoms."

Last week, Liow ordered all the public and private clinics and hospitals to
use rapid influenza screening tests for those who displayed the symptoms as part
of the additional strategies to contain the spread.
-- BERNAMA