Ministry ready to face even bigger outbreaks

Sun2Surf: The Health Ministry is "locked and loaded" to face even bigger bird flu outbreaks should they occur.
Its Disease Control Department director Dr Ramlee Rahmat said yesterday (March 22, 2006) the ministry had prepared a series of plan of action (POA) for the disease outbreak since last year (2005).
"The POA includes active surveillance check, preparation of designated hospitals and laboratories for testing human samples," he told theSun yesterday.
Ramlee said the ministry has sufficient staff nationwide to execute the POA in all states.
"But if the situation become worse, the ministry will mobilise staff from other states to aid the affected states, just as we did during the dengue outbreak last year," he said.
Ramlee said that if the 21 nationwide-designated hospitals for the disease cannot accommodate the number suspected-case patients and provided that the virus cannot transmit from human to human, the ministry will consider upgrading district hospitals as additional isolation wards.
"Suspected patients will first be warded and monitored in the district hospitals, and if needed, they will be transferred to the designated general hospitals for further check-up and treatment," he said.
Ramlee said to date, only two patients in Seberang Perai with flu symptoms were warded in Kepala Batas hospital and Penang Hospital.
However, he said investigations show the symptoms in the two do not meet the criteria of bird flu and will be discharged soon after receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, many villagers have been seen rounding up fowl without proper protection suits, which increase the risk of their contracting the disease.
Ramlee said villagers should wear whatever protection gears they have like masks, gloves and goggles.
He said they should properly cover their hands, mouth and nose whenever they are trying to round out their poultry.
"They should also wash themselves, all their gear and clothes after being in contact with fowl as it is impossible for the authorities to provide protection suits to everyone," he added.