Exit screening put to WHO

NST: PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has tabled a recommendation to the World Health Organisation that all nations screen their citizens and travellers at exit points for symptoms of influenza A (H1N1) infection.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who returned from Geneva yesterday, said the exit screening was crucial to contain the disease, which has now spread to 41 countries and infected 10,243 people and killed 80 others.
"The exit screening is one way of averting the spread and a pandemic outbreak.
"It is prudent for people who are ill with fever and influenza-like symptoms to delay their international travel," he added.
He also advised Malaysian students returning home for holidays to delay their trip if they are sick.
"Get well and then fly. As much as we want you to return home, we also want to ensure that you are not infected with the disease.
"Those who fall ill after international travel should seek medical treatment and alert health authorities of where they had come from."
As of yesterday, Liow said, there were 172 notified cases of flu-like symptoms. To date, there were only two confirmed cases.
While everyone has been cleared of the disease, two more are still quarantined at the Sungai Buloh and Penang hospitals and would be discharged tomorrow if they showed no symptoms.
As for the WHO meeting in Geneva with health ministers worldwide, Liow said, a special technical committee chaired by WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan, gave many suggestions on how to stop the spread of the disease.
He said although the world was better prepared for an influenza pandemic, the concern was if the virus strain changes and becomes very virulent, leading to higher morbidity and mortality.
"With the seasonal flu outbreak in the southern hemisphere, health experts are worried of mutation and rapid spread of the contagious disease," he added.
Liow said he had also participated in the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting and the Asean+3 Health Ministers special meeting on influenza.
"I also had bilateral talks on the need for direct focal point interaction with health authorities in China and Indonesia," he added.
Effective now, Malaysian health officials can talk directly and get information from health officials in China and all Asean countries.