MALAYSIA READY TO FACE SECOND H1N1 WAVE

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The government is putting in place all
necessary preparations to face the second wave of the Influenza A(H1N1)
pandemic, Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.

"The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stressed the possibility of a
second wave of the H1N1 and has called on countries to make the necessary
preparations," he told reporters after launching MCA's crisis relief squad
mobile clinic here Friday.

Liow said that the WHO made the reminder during a meeting attended by health
ministers from 40 countries in Hong Kong recently.

He added that the ministry would ensure all hospitals were equipped with the
necessary facilities including sufficient beds at intensive care units, and to
make sure that treatments were administered correctly and promptly.

"We should also be able to detect H1N1 patients early or else it would be
too late to safe them. The public should not take this illness for granted," he
said.

Liow was also satisfied with the level of awareness among the public towards
the pandemic.

He also said that Malaysia would continue to enhance antiviral and
immunoglobulin treatment to increase patients' resilience against infection.

"We will also look into the treatment methods employed in other countries.
For instance, in China and Hong Kong, they have been using plasma or serum from
those who have recovered from the H1N1 to treat patients in ICUs.

"In Malaysia, we too have our own way of treating patients," he said, adding
that the WHO would continue to monitor the Influenza A(H1N1) virus and would
inform countries of any new mutation.

On the H1N1 vaccine, Liow said it would be in the market by the end of next
month.

-- BERNAMA