Use hand sanitisers to prevent spread of virus, says Liow

Star: BUKIT MERTAJAM: The public is strongly encouraged to use hand sanitisers to prevent the transmission of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said many people touched food and faces soon after touching tables, doorknobs, switches or even shaking hands with others.
“The public must regularly wash their hands with water and soap or clean them using hand sanitisers.
“This is one way to keep personal hygiene at a high level to avoid being infected with the A (H1N1) virus,” he said when opening the Influenza A(H1N1) prevention campaign at the Bukit Indera Muda rural clinic in Permatang Pasir yesterday.
Liow said apart from being air-borne, bacteria and viruses could be transmitted via the hands which could easily get dirty from touching objects.
People should ideally wash their hands with soap for 15 to 20 seconds, or with alcohol-based hand sanitisers, he said, adding that they should avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, especially before washing hands.
Liow said there were 380 new cases reported yesterday, bringing the total in the country to 5,876 cases to date. There were no deaths reported yesterday.
“There are 1,556 patients still warded in 98 hospitals nationwide of whom 220 have been confirmed as having the virus,” Liow said.
He encouraged Permatang Pasir residents to come out and vote on Tuesday as necessary precautionary measures have been taken, including the opening of help desks by the ministry in all nine polling stations.