Liow: We are prepared to deal with spread of swine flu

Star: PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is fully prepared to deal with any spread of the swine flu and has placed its officers at all travel entry points in Malaysia to screen travellers suspected of the illness.
“Our machinery is ready to handle this outbreak,” said its minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
The officers, he said, would be at airports, sea ports and land entry points.
“Since the virus spreads from human to human, we are placed on high alert.”
Even if there was no direct flight from Mexico, passengers originating from there would also be screened, he said.
The ministry’s operations room in Putrajaya has started a 24-hour monitoring of the situation. The public can call 03-8881 0200/300 for enquiries.
He urged doctors to be on alert and has made it compulsory for them to notify the ministry of all influenza cases.
Liow said pork in the country was safe to be consumed, explaining that Malaysia did not import the meat from Mexico.
On Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 854 cases of severe atypical pneumonia that resulted in 59 deaths in Mexico.
The situation is now considered a public health emergency of international concern.
In the United States, at least 10 people have tested positive for the virus which causes symptoms such as fever, cough, body aches and breathing difficulties.
Since the SARS outbreak in 2003, the ministry had come up with strategic plans to battle any similar outbreak.
“We also keep in constant contact with WHO to find out the latest update,” Liow said.
According to WHO, there are now currently no directives on health, travel and trade sanctions that countries have to adhere to.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said those returning from Latin American countries and found to have flu-like symptoms would be quarantined.
“So far, no cases have been reported to the ministry and there is no cause for panic,” he said.
“The public will be informed from time to time on updates about the outbreak,” he said.
Dr Ismail also said that he would discuss with the Veterinary Services Department today on precautionary measures that needed to be taken.
In KOTA KINABALU, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin said that health authorities would keep a close watch on visitors arriving from Latin American countries.
Both immigration and customs officers at entry points would assist the ministry, she said, adding that her ministry would also advise Malaysians not to travel to the affected countries.