38 new H1N1 cases reported

Thirty-eight new Influenza A (H1N1) cases, comprising 33 imported cases and five local transmissions, were reported yesterday, bringing the total number of H1N1 cases in the country to 196.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said out of the 38 cases, 30 involved Malaysians, five were Indonesians and the other three were a Swede, a Palestinian and an Argentinean.

He said the locally infected cases involved three students of Sekolah Menengah Tsun Jin, Jalan Loke Yew Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, while the other two were contacts to the 143rd and 147th case, respectively.

Currently, 86 patients were still receiving treatment for H1N1 and 110 patients had recovered from the disease, he added.

Liow said two schools — Sekolah Menengah Tsun Jin Cheras, Kuala Lumpur and Sekolah Tinggi Chung Hwa, Seremban — remained close due to the H1N1 pandemic.

The number of quarantine cases was 4,668 and that their quarantine period would end this Friday, he added.

Liow also said that 29 more health clinics and five private hospitals in the Klang Valley were now equipped with facilities to conduct throat swab sample test to check for H1N1.

The private hospitals are Sunway Medical Centre, Pantai Medical Centre, Sime Darby Medical Centre, Gleaneagles Intan Medical Centre and Prince Court Hospital.

He also said that the use of the rapid test kit to test for Influenza A H1N1 was not allowed as it was not specifically made to detect H1N1.

Liow also clarified that visitors entering the country would be quarantined or admitted to hospitals only if they had symptoms of being infected by H1N1.

For those in the same flight with a confirmed case, only those occupying the three seats nearest to the patient would be placed under quarantine, he added.

On the current Influenza A H1N1 situation in the country, Liow said it was serious, but under control, and advised the public to take the necessary precaution against being infected by the disease.

“Many people say this pandemic does not have a high fatality, not serious. Actually it is serious and everybody should take the necessary measures to prevent the disease from spreading,” he added.

He said all business premises, including factories, were also advised to take necessary precautions against H1N1.

— Bernama