Red alert over bird flu

Star: PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is working closely with its Chinese counterpart in monitoring the development of the H5N1 avian influenza virus which killed a man in Shenzhen, China.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said there was still no report of transmission of the virus, which recorded a fatality rate of 60% between human beings, and urged Malaysians to remain calm.
“What happened to the man in China is an isolated case,” he said at the opening ceremony of Chempaka Medical Services Centre here.
However, he said Malaysians still needed to be cautious to ensure that they did not contract the virus.
“They must refrain from visiting chicken farms and immediately consult the doctor if they catch the flu or fever,” he said.
Liow said the ministry would continue to screen the temperature of passengers at all airports.
“Anyone coming from the affected countries like China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia who show high temperature during the screening will be sent to the hospital for quarantine,” he said, adding that no such patient had been sent to hospital so far.
The 39-year-old man, surnamed Chen, died on Saturday in Shenzhen, a city that borders Hong Kong, where thousands of chickens have already been culled after three birds tested positive for the H5N1 virus last month.
He developed a fever on Dec 21 and was taken to hospital four days later diagnosed with severe pneumonia, according to the health department in Shenzhen, a city of more than 10 million people.
The department said the man had no direct contact with poultry in the month before he was taken ill, nor had he left the city.
On another matter, Liow said the five most common serious ailments among senior citizens were hypertension, diabetes and problems related to the eye, lungs and joints.
“The five most common risks among older persons are high blood pressure, physical inactivity, cigarette or tobacco smoking, abnormal blood glucose level and obesity.”
Liow added that nine hospitals in the country had geriatric units with 13 geriatricians and eight psycho-geriatricians serving patients aged above 60.
Malaysians above 60 years old are now entitled to free healthcare, which covers medical examination, treatment, counselling and rehabilitation, at all government hospitals and clinics.