Travellers should practise self-quarantine

NST: PUTRAJAYA: Travellers from countries with reported influenza A (H1N1) cases have been advised to limit their movements for at least seven days from the day they arrive in Malaysia.
Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican advised those who had just returned from abroad to do the same thing.
"But if they begin to show influenza symptoms, they must seek treatment immediately and not get involved in any social activities or mingle with other people.
"This is to prevent local transmission," he said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Ismail also cautioned the public to keep abreast of the latest information about the cases via the Health Ministry's website (www.moh.gov.my) and announcements made by ministry officials from time to time.
In the last 24 hours, 42 people with influenza symptoms who had returned from affected countries were reported.
Of the number, 16 had been admitted to the isolation wards of four hospitals for treatment and investigation, and 26 placed under home quarantine, Dr Ismail said.
The number of confirmed cases in Malaysia remains at 12, with no new cases reported in the last 24 hours. Malaysia has not reported any case of local transmission.
Dr Ismail said of the 12 cases, five were still receiving treatment at hospitals -- one each at Sungai Buloh Hospital, Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban and Kuala Lumpur Hospital and two at Penang Hospital.
"All of them are showing good response to the anti-virus treatment given."
He said the number of people placed under home quarantine was 123, with none having shown influenza symptoms.
The ministry has appealed to all "contacts" of those tested positive with influenza symptoms, including airline passengers and crew members, to call the ministry at 03-88810200 or 88810300.
"This is to enable us to render health advice accordingly, including the need for home quarantine."
He said according to the World Health Organisation, as at 8am yesterday, there were 29,960 influenza A cases from 74 countries, with 145 deaths.
An additional 133 cases were reported from eight countries in Australia (67), China (22), the Philippines (19), Hong Kong (11), New Zealand (nine), Korea (three), Malaysia (one) and Vietnam (one).
The ministry is also seeking the cooperation of Malaysian students overseas who intend to return for the summer holidays to postpone their journey home if they have influenza symptoms.
They are advised to get treatment before returning to Malaysia and to report to the medical team at Kuala Lumpur International Airport if they are unwell.