H1N1 CAUTION FOR OVERSEAS TRAVELLERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry Thursday advised the
people to exercise caution when visiting countries in the northern hemisphere
during the current school holidays in view of the resurgence of Influenza A
(H1N1) there since a week ago.

Director-General of Health Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said in a statement that
the World Health Organisation (WHO) had reported H1N1 was actively spreading in
the countries of North America and Eastern Europe.

"The disease has reached its peak in Western Europe, with about 99 per cent
of Influenza A cases detected in the northern hemisphere caused by the Influenza
A (H1N1) virus," he said.

He said the cumulative number of deaths from Influenza A (H1N1) worldwide up
to Dec 6 was 9,596, up by nine per cent from the previous week.

Dr Mohd Ismail said Malaysians travelling abroad, especially to countries of
the northern hemisphere, should observe personal hygiene and take other
precautionary measures if they could not postpone the trip.

He advised those who developed flu symptoms upon their return to the country
to seek immediate treatment at clinics or hospitals as being complacent could
spark off the second wave of Influenza A (H1N1).

He said that in the week of Dec 6 to 12, 537 people with Influenza-like
illness (ILI) were admitted to hospital while 503 were discharged.

"Those who want the latest information on Influenza A (H1N1) and the
preventive measures can obtain them from the http://www.moh.gov.my or
http://h1n1.moh.gov.my websites," he said.
-- BERNAMA