H1N1 SURVEILLANCE TEAM IN EVERY STATE TO PREVENT THE SECOND WAVE

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 5(Bernama) -- Influenza A (H1N1) surveillance teams have been
set up in every state to prevent the outbreak of a second wave of the virus,
said Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

He said the teams which would be under the Disease Control Division would
monitor the situation every day to detect early any outbreak of the pandemic.

Speaking to reporters after launching his ministry's Innovation Day here
Thursday, Liow said the number of H1N1 cases have reduced tremendously from 400
to 500 cases a day to 20 to 30 cases.

"In normal days we will also activate this surveillance system. So that we
can know how many cold and cough cases we need to take seriously. We have many
types of flu. All this needs surveillance, needs data, needs monitoring. So we
are monitoring this closely," he added.

Earlier, in his speech Liow said the Innovation Day will be an annual affair
beginning this year and was in line with Prime Minister Najib Razak's call that
innovation be given importance in the public sector.

He also said ministry staff involved in any form of research and innovation
need not be confined to laboratories, agencies or institutions but can also
contribute globally.

"However, not all research results or innovations can be used in the
country. Therefore there needs to be a technology transfer process and
cooperation with other countries," he said.
-- BERNAMA