Stricter H1N1 measures

Star: PETALING JAYA: Screening for influenza A (H1N1) at the country’s entry points will be stepped up as Malaysian students return from Australia, United States and Europe for their winter and summer breaks.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican urged students who had symptoms of the influenza to postpone their trip home.
“They should seek treatment and recover before travelling,” he said in a statement yesterday.
All three areas, which have a high number of Malaysian students, are seriously affected by the influenza.
Australia, with about 20,000 Malaysian students, is the worst hit country outside the Americas.
The worst affected state is Victoria where there are more than 5,800 Malaysian students in nine institutes of higher learning and many are expected to return home for the winter which will start soon.
Dr Ismail also urged those who have returned to Malaysia from affected countries to immediately seek medical attention if they had symptoms of the flu within seven days.
“They should also limit their movements,” he added.
The Foreign Ministry has also advised Malaysians to consider deferring non-essential travel to affected countries.
Travellers are also advised to practise a high standard of personal hygiene by avoiding contact with affected persons, using facial mask and using detergent, water or alcohol to clean their hands.
“The ministry is not banning Malaysians from travelling abroad but urging travellers to be more vigilant,” it said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Ismail, meanwhile, said another A (H1N1) flu case had been confirmed in the country, bringing the total number to 12.
The latest is a 19-year-old medical student who returned from Melbourne after a 17-day holiday.
He said the student returned with three friends on flight MH148 from Melbourne which arrived at the KL International Airport at 9.21pm on Wednesday.
“The student was not ill when at KLIA,” he said without revealing the student’s gender.
Dr Ismail said the student began to fall ill on Thursday and was treated at the University Malaya Medical Centre before being referred to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital isolation ward at 5.30pm on the same day.
Tests showed that the student had the A (H1N1) virus.
“At this time, the student’s condition is stable. The student’s parents, who do not live together, are under home quarantine.
“The ministry has also identified five friends whom the student had come into contact with for further quarantine,” Dr Ismail said.
He added that the ministry was tracking down those who were on MH148, especially those seated from rows 33 to 39.