MINISTER WANTS IMMEDIATE TREATMENT FOR HIGH-RISK FLU PATIENTS

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Doctors in the public and private sectors
must give immediate treatment to high-risk influenza A(H1N1) patients as most of
them apparently died as a result of late treatment, said Health Minister Liow
Tiong Lai.

He said anti-viral medicines had to be administered to high-risk patients
including those with heart ailments, diabetes and asthma and having fever for
more than two days.

"If you feel that you have influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and you have other
sickness, we advise you to go for an anti-viral treatment.

"Do not wait for the H1N1 test results," he told reporters after
launching the Asia Healthcare 2009 Conference here Monday.

Influenza A (H1N1) or swine flu claimed two more casualties Monday - a
seven-year-old baby boy and a 74-year-old woman - bringing the death toll to 64.

On the situation, Liow said the country was in a state of alarm and not in
the health emergency situation and asked the public not to be misled that a
health emergency had been declared.

He said the health emergency would be declared by the National Security
Council if the death the virus mortality rate of those infected breached 0.4 per
cent.

"We have disease control specialists, virologists and many others monitoring
the health situation everyday and they give reports to me on the situation on
the ground.

"The mortality level of the virus at the moment is below 0.1 percent, if the
mortality rate goes above 0.4 percent, then we have to announce very stern
measures and may even have to announce an emergency situation," he said.

Liow said the ministry would tighten monitoring to ensure that the second
wave of the H1N1 pandemic would be controlled as it was reported to be more
severe by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"As we are now entering the wet season, monitoring has to be intensified
especially on small children, who easily catch cold that could be infected with
H1N1.

"Those having ILI should use surgical masks. If they are caught without the
masks, they will be slapped with fines or charged in court for disobeying the
ministry's advice," he said.

On Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's suggestion that surgical masks
be made a controlled item, Liow said he would discuss it with the Domestic
Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry on the ceiling price.

In his speech, he said there must be better cooperation between the public
and private healthcare sectors to resolve issues related to equity,
accessibility, effectiveness, efficiency and the use of preventive services and
health promotion.

"There is also a need for the private sector to shoulder more social
responsibilities, particularly in the provision of services to the less
financially endowed.

"More dialogues, seminars and workshops among public-private healthcare
providers are also needed to raise the level of understanding and collaboration
and to explore other strategic activities to enhance both sectors," he said.
-- BERNAMA