Star: PETALING JAYA: RM3.55mil – that’s the amount in bills foreign workers left unpaid in government hospitals in the first three months of this year.
And Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shirlin is not amused. She wants employers who do not pay their foreign workers’ medical bills to be hauled up.
“We are concerned about the figures. It is a huge amount for such a short period,” she said yesterday after attending Pharmaniaga Bhd’s third Vendors Excellence Awards ceremony here.
“A paper is being prepared together with the Human Resources Ministry to make it compulsory for employers to have medical insurance for their workers, given the rampant occurrence of unpaid bills.”
Rosnah said steps would also be taken to require employers to make advance payment and stand guarantee for foreign workers seeking treatment.
Foreign patients had settled some RM916,150 in debts so far, while Malaysians still owed RM4.8mil to government hospitals.
Earlier, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, in his speech read out by Rosnah, urged pharmaceutical vendors to enhance their delivery service and ensure their products were of good quality and delivered on time in the right quantity.
“Late delivery, product call backs and complaints on product quality are still a bane although the supply system has been implemented for 14 years,” Liow said in his speech.
On the Manek Urai by-election, Rosnah, who is also Puteri Umno chief, said doctors would be on call at the Barisan Nasional command centre and also make home visits.
Malaysian Medical News: keeping you up to date with news sourced from various online sites, put in one place for your convenience, with a searchable archive
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
20 new H1N1 cases reported
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Twenty new influenza A (H1N1) cases have been reported in Malaysia – 16 were imported and four were locally transmitted, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.
He said the latest cases involved 13 Malaysians and seven foreigners – a Vietnamese, a German, an Australian, a Japanese, an American and two Indonesians.
“Forty-two patients are still being treated at hospitals and all of them are responding well to treatment,” he said.
Currently, 10 patients are treated at various hospitals including Sungai Buloh Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Penang Hospital, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star and Kulim Hospital.
The others are at Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban, Sarawak General Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan Hospital, Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru and Bintulu Hospital in Sarawak.
“A total of 102 patients have recovered from the disease and have been discharged,” Dr Ismail said in a statement here yesterday.
Currently, 618 people are still under home quarantine and all are healthy.
He said the 19th locally transmitted case is a 39-year-old Malaysian who had contact with his wife and two children.
The other locally transmitted case was a 15-year-old Chung Hwa High School student in Seremban, who contracted the disease from a sibling who had returned from Melbourne.
Dr Ismail said the 21st locally transmitted case involved a 36-year-old teacher from SMK Abdul Rahim 2 in Kudat while the 22nd case was a 16-year-old student from Tsun Jin Height School at Jalan Loke Yew, Cheras, who had contact with a school mate.
In Sarawak, among those quarantined were a private doctor and his two assistants in Bintulu.
The trio had come into contact with a 17-year-old student who returned from Melbourne on June 25 and who is now under treatment at Bintulu Hospital.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said yesterday that the fourth confirmed case involved a 20-year-old Sarawakian student who returned from Queensland on June 27.
In Seremban, state health, science and technology and innovation committee chairman Datuk Ismail Taib said of the 13 people tested positive in the state to date, eight have recovered.
He said a 19-month-old baby, who was the first locally transmitted case in the state, was also in stable condition.
For latest information on the disease, call the influenza A hotlines at 03-8881 0200, 03-8881 0300, 03-8883 4414 and 03-8883 4415 from 8am to 9pm.
He said the latest cases involved 13 Malaysians and seven foreigners – a Vietnamese, a German, an Australian, a Japanese, an American and two Indonesians.
“Forty-two patients are still being treated at hospitals and all of them are responding well to treatment,” he said.
Currently, 10 patients are treated at various hospitals including Sungai Buloh Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Penang Hospital, Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star and Kulim Hospital.
The others are at Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban, Sarawak General Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan Hospital, Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru and Bintulu Hospital in Sarawak.
“A total of 102 patients have recovered from the disease and have been discharged,” Dr Ismail said in a statement here yesterday.
Currently, 618 people are still under home quarantine and all are healthy.
He said the 19th locally transmitted case is a 39-year-old Malaysian who had contact with his wife and two children.
The other locally transmitted case was a 15-year-old Chung Hwa High School student in Seremban, who contracted the disease from a sibling who had returned from Melbourne.
Dr Ismail said the 21st locally transmitted case involved a 36-year-old teacher from SMK Abdul Rahim 2 in Kudat while the 22nd case was a 16-year-old student from Tsun Jin Height School at Jalan Loke Yew, Cheras, who had contact with a school mate.
In Sarawak, among those quarantined were a private doctor and his two assistants in Bintulu.
The trio had come into contact with a 17-year-old student who returned from Melbourne on June 25 and who is now under treatment at Bintulu Hospital.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said yesterday that the fourth confirmed case involved a 20-year-old Sarawakian student who returned from Queensland on June 27.
In Seremban, state health, science and technology and innovation committee chairman Datuk Ismail Taib said of the 13 people tested positive in the state to date, eight have recovered.
He said a 19-month-old baby, who was the first locally transmitted case in the state, was also in stable condition.
For latest information on the disease, call the influenza A hotlines at 03-8881 0200, 03-8881 0300, 03-8883 4414 and 03-8883 4415 from 8am to 9pm.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Seremban school closed till July 5
Star: SEREMBAN: Chung Hwa High School near here has become the latest school to be ordered closed after a Form Three student tested positive for the influenza A (H1N1) virus yesterday.
The private school will be closed from today and classes will resume on July 6, its headmaster Sua Sin Zang said.
The girl was believed to have been infected by her 22-year-old brother who had returned for his semester break from Australia on Monday.
Meanwhile, health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said a 15-month-old toddler who was under home quarantine has been infected with the H1N1 virus, bringing the total number of cases to 124.
There were 12 new cases as of yesterday morning, of which 11 were imported, including four from Jakarta, which was a first.
Of the 12 cases, six involved children, including the toddler who was the 17th local transmission case.
Dr Ismail expressed concern whether those under the seven-day home quarantine abided by the ministry’s 10 precautionary steps.
The boy, he said, had no overseas travel history but his mother had visited Phuket and became the country’s 86th case.
All passengers and crew on affected flights are advised to contact the ministry or call the current hotline numbers at 03-88810200 or 03-88810300.
On news reports that the SJK (C) Jalan Davidson principal had returned to the school while still on his seven-day home quarantine, Dr Ismail said they would investigate the matter, adding that there had been no cases of people jumping quarantine so far.
In George Town, Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai, who returned from China on June 19, has been put under home quarantine as a precautionary measure after he complained of headache and sore throat.
State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said swab samples from Koay have been taken for testing.
The private school will be closed from today and classes will resume on July 6, its headmaster Sua Sin Zang said.
The girl was believed to have been infected by her 22-year-old brother who had returned for his semester break from Australia on Monday.
Meanwhile, health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said a 15-month-old toddler who was under home quarantine has been infected with the H1N1 virus, bringing the total number of cases to 124.
There were 12 new cases as of yesterday morning, of which 11 were imported, including four from Jakarta, which was a first.
Of the 12 cases, six involved children, including the toddler who was the 17th local transmission case.
Dr Ismail expressed concern whether those under the seven-day home quarantine abided by the ministry’s 10 precautionary steps.
The boy, he said, had no overseas travel history but his mother had visited Phuket and became the country’s 86th case.
All passengers and crew on affected flights are advised to contact the ministry or call the current hotline numbers at 03-88810200 or 03-88810300.
On news reports that the SJK (C) Jalan Davidson principal had returned to the school while still on his seven-day home quarantine, Dr Ismail said they would investigate the matter, adding that there had been no cases of people jumping quarantine so far.
In George Town, Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai, who returned from China on June 19, has been put under home quarantine as a precautionary measure after he complained of headache and sore throat.
State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said swab samples from Koay have been taken for testing.
Liow: Check for ‘silent killers’
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Millions of Malaysians will be encouraged to report regularly to government clinics for health counselling from next year.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said health checks and counselling on a one-to-one basis to prevent or control conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity would be available at the clinics by then.
Currently, one in four deaths in government hospitals can be traced to such conditions, known as silent killers.
“The ministry encourages the people to come to the clinics when they are healthy. Please do not wait until you are sick.
“It is best if you can come as a family,” Liow said in an interview here, adding that such visits would be on a half-yearly basis or once a year, depending on the person’s condition.
Government hospitals and clinics treated 23 million outpatients and two million inpatients yearly, Liow said, adding that preventive measures like health checks and counselling would help to reduce the incidence of people falling sick.
He said it was alarming when people told him that they did not know the meaning of high blood pressure and never had their pressure taken.
He said two thirds of the estimated five million Malaysians with high blood pressure were not aware of their condition.
The ministry’s statistics found that 43% of Malaysians aged 30 and above were prone to high blood pressure.
Apart from that, 60% of Malaysians had weight problems, 30% were overweight and another 30% were listed as obese based on the Asia-Pacific Body Mass Index guidelines.
Liow said 200 nutritionists would be employed for the 800 government clinics in stages, adding that he would present a paper on its implementation to the Cabinet soon.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said health checks and counselling on a one-to-one basis to prevent or control conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity would be available at the clinics by then.
Currently, one in four deaths in government hospitals can be traced to such conditions, known as silent killers.
“The ministry encourages the people to come to the clinics when they are healthy. Please do not wait until you are sick.
“It is best if you can come as a family,” Liow said in an interview here, adding that such visits would be on a half-yearly basis or once a year, depending on the person’s condition.
Government hospitals and clinics treated 23 million outpatients and two million inpatients yearly, Liow said, adding that preventive measures like health checks and counselling would help to reduce the incidence of people falling sick.
He said it was alarming when people told him that they did not know the meaning of high blood pressure and never had their pressure taken.
He said two thirds of the estimated five million Malaysians with high blood pressure were not aware of their condition.
The ministry’s statistics found that 43% of Malaysians aged 30 and above were prone to high blood pressure.
Apart from that, 60% of Malaysians had weight problems, 30% were overweight and another 30% were listed as obese based on the Asia-Pacific Body Mass Index guidelines.
Liow said 200 nutritionists would be employed for the 800 government clinics in stages, adding that he would present a paper on its implementation to the Cabinet soon.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
A(H1N1) suspects get one-week leave proposal
Star: PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has decided that employees in self-quarantine for suspected influenza A (H1N1) will be accorded a week’s medical leave with full pay.
They would have to get a letter from any government hospital or clinic to certify that they had to be quarantined at home for a week, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said.
“The letter will then have to be produced to the employer who will accord the employee sick leave,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam said the move was in line with Section 60F (bb) of the Employment Act.
Meanwhile, students can delay their registration for the 2009/10 academic session at public universities tomorrow if they have been advised by a doctor and have a medical certificate.
Higher Education Department director-general Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Suhadi advised the 40,366 successful applicants registering for entry to the country’s 20 public universities to consult a doctor if they were unwell or had symptoms similar to the influenza A (H1N1).
“They may delay registration if advised to do so by the doctor but they must inform their respective institutions,” he told The Star.
Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ghauth Jasmon said all students would be asked to fill a health declaration form.
Health checks and monitoring would be carried out on both local and international students arriving from high-risk countries, he said.
A Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia official said students would be screened at all residential colleges when they register tomorrow.
Universiti Putra Malaysia corporate communications division head Abdullah Arshad said new students would be screened at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Cultural and Arts Centre before they could register at the residential colleges.
Yesterday, 15 cleaners mopped, wiped and scrubbed all floors, tables and chairs at SJK(C) Jln Davidson in Kuala Lumpur.
A professional cleaning company was hired to clean the school in preparation for its reopening today.
Dettol supplied the cleaning products to sanitise all 42 classrooms, along with the halls and toilets.
They would have to get a letter from any government hospital or clinic to certify that they had to be quarantined at home for a week, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said.
“The letter will then have to be produced to the employer who will accord the employee sick leave,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam said the move was in line with Section 60F (bb) of the Employment Act.
Meanwhile, students can delay their registration for the 2009/10 academic session at public universities tomorrow if they have been advised by a doctor and have a medical certificate.
Higher Education Department director-general Prof Datuk Dr Radin Umar Radin Suhadi advised the 40,366 successful applicants registering for entry to the country’s 20 public universities to consult a doctor if they were unwell or had symptoms similar to the influenza A (H1N1).
“They may delay registration if advised to do so by the doctor but they must inform their respective institutions,” he told The Star.
Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ghauth Jasmon said all students would be asked to fill a health declaration form.
Health checks and monitoring would be carried out on both local and international students arriving from high-risk countries, he said.
A Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia official said students would be screened at all residential colleges when they register tomorrow.
Universiti Putra Malaysia corporate communications division head Abdullah Arshad said new students would be screened at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Cultural and Arts Centre before they could register at the residential colleges.
Yesterday, 15 cleaners mopped, wiped and scrubbed all floors, tables and chairs at SJK(C) Jln Davidson in Kuala Lumpur.
A professional cleaning company was hired to clean the school in preparation for its reopening today.
Dettol supplied the cleaning products to sanitise all 42 classrooms, along with the halls and toilets.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Schools urged to avoid use of air-conditioners
NST: PUTRAJAYA: Turn off the air-conditioners, switch on the fans and leave the windows open. This is the advice to schools to cut down on the risk of influenza A (H1N1) spreading among students.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said: "An outbreak is less likely to happen if the rooms are well ventilated."
He said Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican, who is also the chairman of the technical committee on influenza A (H1N1) would be meeting with Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin soon to bring up the matter.
So far, four schools have been ordered to close after local transmission of the disease among their students. They are SK Assunta 1, SK Assunta 2, Sri Cempaka International School and SJK(C) Jalan Davidson.
"We are not going close any more schools unless there is a sustained community transmission," said Liow.
A sustained community transmission is local transmission of the disease to third persons.
Liow assured the people that they need not panic.
"Our health officers are well equipped to contain the infections at this level now although we are still on high alert."
He also urged the public not to play the blame game, referring to calls by angry parents and the public for the father of the 11-year-old girl from SJK (C) Jalan Davidson infected with the flu, to issue a public apology.
"This is not going to solve anything. Now it is simply time to cooperate to make sure that the disease is not spread further."
Liow also had a stern message for those who spread rumours about the outbreak through SMS.
"We got news that people are receiving SMSes with false information about the outbreak.
"The only source for accurate information on the flu can only come from the Health Ministry, and we will be working with the police to find these irresponsible people who are causing panic and unnecessary alarm."
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said: "An outbreak is less likely to happen if the rooms are well ventilated."
He said Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican, who is also the chairman of the technical committee on influenza A (H1N1) would be meeting with Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin soon to bring up the matter.
So far, four schools have been ordered to close after local transmission of the disease among their students. They are SK Assunta 1, SK Assunta 2, Sri Cempaka International School and SJK(C) Jalan Davidson.
"We are not going close any more schools unless there is a sustained community transmission," said Liow.
A sustained community transmission is local transmission of the disease to third persons.
Liow assured the people that they need not panic.
"Our health officers are well equipped to contain the infections at this level now although we are still on high alert."
He also urged the public not to play the blame game, referring to calls by angry parents and the public for the father of the 11-year-old girl from SJK (C) Jalan Davidson infected with the flu, to issue a public apology.
"This is not going to solve anything. Now it is simply time to cooperate to make sure that the disease is not spread further."
Liow also had a stern message for those who spread rumours about the outbreak through SMS.
"We got news that people are receiving SMSes with false information about the outbreak.
"The only source for accurate information on the flu can only come from the Health Ministry, and we will be working with the police to find these irresponsible people who are causing panic and unnecessary alarm."
Screening for students entering varsities
NST: KUALA LUMPUR:Students registering at institutions of higher learning for this year's session will be screened for influenza A (H1N1) at campus entry points.
Universiti Putra Malaysia, which is receiving its new students this weekend, has issued a directive that students go to UPM's Dewan Besar for screening.
Head of UPM Health Centre Dr Yahya Abu Ahmad said previously students would check into the various colleges before registering themselves.
"However, this year, as a preventive measure against the H1N1, students will have to undergo screening before checking in."
Dr Yahya said of the 400 foreign students registering for this year's session, 150 who have arrived from last Monday, had undergone screening and all tested negative.
He said screening would also be carried out on the 2,500 existing foreign students who will be returning from July 5, after their semester break.
He said two academic staff who recently returned from Melbourne were referred to the Sungai Buloh Hospital but found to be H1N1 free.
Universiti Teknologi Mara has also set up screening facilities for the 15,783 diploma students and 14,684 degree students joining its campuses throughout the country.
A university spokesman said circulars had been sent out to all students and staff to get themselves screened before joining the new session.
H1N1 screening will also be carried out by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on Sunday when it receives a total of 3,952 undergraduates, about five per cent of whom are foreign students.
The Monash University Sunway campus near here sent emails to students and staff advising them on how to avoid infection and not infect others.
The university's head of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Professor Datuk Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain, said staff and students were advised to seek medical help if they had flu-like symptoms.
Universiti Putra Malaysia, which is receiving its new students this weekend, has issued a directive that students go to UPM's Dewan Besar for screening.
Head of UPM Health Centre Dr Yahya Abu Ahmad said previously students would check into the various colleges before registering themselves.
"However, this year, as a preventive measure against the H1N1, students will have to undergo screening before checking in."
Dr Yahya said of the 400 foreign students registering for this year's session, 150 who have arrived from last Monday, had undergone screening and all tested negative.
He said screening would also be carried out on the 2,500 existing foreign students who will be returning from July 5, after their semester break.
He said two academic staff who recently returned from Melbourne were referred to the Sungai Buloh Hospital but found to be H1N1 free.
Universiti Teknologi Mara has also set up screening facilities for the 15,783 diploma students and 14,684 degree students joining its campuses throughout the country.
A university spokesman said circulars had been sent out to all students and staff to get themselves screened before joining the new session.
H1N1 screening will also be carried out by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on Sunday when it receives a total of 3,952 undergraduates, about five per cent of whom are foreign students.
The Monash University Sunway campus near here sent emails to students and staff advising them on how to avoid infection and not infect others.
The university's head of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Professor Datuk Dr Anuar Zaini Md Zain, said staff and students were advised to seek medical help if they had flu-like symptoms.
A(H1N1): 19-month-old toddler among 11 new cases
Star: PUTRAJAYA: A 19-month-old baby is among 11 new cases of influenza A (H1N1), Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
The toddler, the 84th case, was among those placed under home quarantine after being found to have had contact with the 72nd confirmed case in the country, an 11-year-old Indonesian boy who arrived at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal on board Flight AK702 on Monday at 1.55pm.
Liow said the child was warded at Seremban Hospital on Tuesday after developing a cough and test results the next day confirmed the presence of the flu virus.
“However, the child’s three other family members who were also quarantined have tested negative,” he told a press conference after handing out excellent service awards to 535 ministry staff yesterday.
Liow said yesterday’s three locally transmitted cases and eight imported cases brought the total number now to 91, but 35 of the patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.
One of the three locally transmitted cases involved a foreign student in Kuala Lumpur while three of the imported cases were foreigners – from Ireland, Australia and the Philippines.
The foreign student is a 24-year-old Yemeni studying at a private institution and living in Kuala Lumpur, who had contact with the 63rd confirmed case on Tuesday – a Yemeni on holiday here.
In Alor Setar, the Kedah Health Department is looking for those who came into contact with a 29-year-old woman from Sungai Petani, who is the 86th patient in the country.
The woman was among 10 people who had gone to Phuket for five days before returning to the LCCT on Flight AK823 (Seat 28A) at 10am on Sunday.
The group continued its journey to Penang the same day on Flight AK5368 (her seat was 22F) and arrived in Penang at 4.30pm.
Three other people confirmed as having the virus in Kedah were a 21-year-old university student, who returned from Toronto with his two sisters aged 18 and 25.
The toddler, the 84th case, was among those placed under home quarantine after being found to have had contact with the 72nd confirmed case in the country, an 11-year-old Indonesian boy who arrived at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal on board Flight AK702 on Monday at 1.55pm.
Liow said the child was warded at Seremban Hospital on Tuesday after developing a cough and test results the next day confirmed the presence of the flu virus.
“However, the child’s three other family members who were also quarantined have tested negative,” he told a press conference after handing out excellent service awards to 535 ministry staff yesterday.
Liow said yesterday’s three locally transmitted cases and eight imported cases brought the total number now to 91, but 35 of the patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.
One of the three locally transmitted cases involved a foreign student in Kuala Lumpur while three of the imported cases were foreigners – from Ireland, Australia and the Philippines.
The foreign student is a 24-year-old Yemeni studying at a private institution and living in Kuala Lumpur, who had contact with the 63rd confirmed case on Tuesday – a Yemeni on holiday here.
In Alor Setar, the Kedah Health Department is looking for those who came into contact with a 29-year-old woman from Sungai Petani, who is the 86th patient in the country.
The woman was among 10 people who had gone to Phuket for five days before returning to the LCCT on Flight AK823 (Seat 28A) at 10am on Sunday.
The group continued its journey to Penang the same day on Flight AK5368 (her seat was 22F) and arrived in Penang at 4.30pm.
Three other people confirmed as having the virus in Kedah were a 21-year-old university student, who returned from Toronto with his two sisters aged 18 and 25.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A(H1N1): Employers asked to allow 7 days unrecorded leave
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Employers have been urged to allow a seven-day unrecorded leave for their staff who are placed under quarantine for the Influenza A(H1N1) upon their return from the United States, the Philippines, Australia or Mexico, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
He said he will propose to the Cabinet next week to make it mandatory.
He added that leave for over 100,000 ministry staff had been frozen until further notice to ensure flu control activities are carried out effectively.
Liow announced 11 new cases, with three locally transmitted while eight others are imported.
Of the three locally transmitted cases two are Malaysians and one Yemeni while the imported cases are foreigners from Ireland, Australia and the Philippines.
Liow also said that the ministry would propose to the Education Ministry that schools, especially those in the Klang Valley that do not have air-conditioning in classrooms to open the windows and doors for good ventilation in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.
He said he will propose to the Cabinet next week to make it mandatory.
He added that leave for over 100,000 ministry staff had been frozen until further notice to ensure flu control activities are carried out effectively.
Liow announced 11 new cases, with three locally transmitted while eight others are imported.
Of the three locally transmitted cases two are Malaysians and one Yemeni while the imported cases are foreigners from Ireland, Australia and the Philippines.
Liow also said that the ministry would propose to the Education Ministry that schools, especially those in the Klang Valley that do not have air-conditioning in classrooms to open the windows and doors for good ventilation in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.
12 new cases, two by local transmission, total now 80
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Twelve more cases of influenza A (H1N1) have been reported in the country, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.
Of the number, he said, 10 were imported cases and two locally transmitted, bringing the total number of cases to 80.
“Three of them are foreigners (two from Yemen and one Indonesian) while the rest are Malaysians who have been to the affected countries — Singapore, Britain, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia and the United States,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Until 8am yesterday, he said 44 patients were still being treated at hospitals.
“Until 9pm on Tuesday, 628 people including 164 new contacts are still under home quarantine without showing any symptoms,” he said.
Dr Ismail said the 69th patient was a 23-year-old Malaysian waitress who returned from Singapore on Sunday on an Aeroline bus with the registration number WMF 8862.
A 20-year-old Malaysian student in London, who arrived in KLIA on Friday at 7.30pm on board flight MH 003, was the 70th patient, he said.
He said the patient did not show any symptoms until he had fever on Monday and was referred to the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
The others are:
> A 29-year-old Malaysian who arrived at LCCT on AirAsia AK 747 on Friday at 9pm.
> A Malaysian, 43, who came home from the Philippines on board MH 705 last Wednesday.
> An 11-year-old Indonesian boy who arrived at the LCCT on board AK 702 on Monday at 1.55pm.
> A 27-year-old Malaysian who travelled to Manila on June 14 on MH704 and returned on Friday on board MH 705.
> A six-month-old baby who returned from California on board CX 873 to Hong Kong and connecting flight CX 723 back to Malaysia on Friday at 3.30pm.
> A 19-year-old student who returned from Melbourne on Saturday on SQ 238 and arrived at the Changi Airport.
> A 20-year-old Yemeni student studying English at Asian Life Skill Sdn Bhd; the 10th local transmission case. He had contact with the 63rd patient, a Yemeni who came to Malaysia for holidays.
> Another Yemeni, a housemate of the above Yemeni student; the 11th local case.
> A Malaysian stewardess, 38, who was on MH 150 from Amsterdam to KLIA on June 12.
> An eight-year-old boy, who returned from Melbourne on board MH 148. He is the brother of an earlier patient.
In Johor Baru, a 19-year-old female student who returned from Melbourne last Saturday via Singapore’s Changi Airport became the first flu case in Johor.
She was on flight SQ 0238 and had been in Melbourne for the last six months, Johor Women, Family, Community Development and Health committee chairman Dr Robiah Kosai said.
She had returned home from the airport in a taxi, she said.
The student, she said, was being treated at a hospital while her family members had been quarantined at home for a week.
“The 36-year-old taxi driver and his family are also being quarantined at home for a week,” she told a press conference.
Dr Robiah also noted that the patient’s grandmother had died yesterday due to old age.
She said officers from the Health Department would assist the family throughout the burial ceremony so they would not expose anyone else to the flu.
Of the number, he said, 10 were imported cases and two locally transmitted, bringing the total number of cases to 80.
“Three of them are foreigners (two from Yemen and one Indonesian) while the rest are Malaysians who have been to the affected countries — Singapore, Britain, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia and the United States,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Until 8am yesterday, he said 44 patients were still being treated at hospitals.
“Until 9pm on Tuesday, 628 people including 164 new contacts are still under home quarantine without showing any symptoms,” he said.
Dr Ismail said the 69th patient was a 23-year-old Malaysian waitress who returned from Singapore on Sunday on an Aeroline bus with the registration number WMF 8862.
A 20-year-old Malaysian student in London, who arrived in KLIA on Friday at 7.30pm on board flight MH 003, was the 70th patient, he said.
He said the patient did not show any symptoms until he had fever on Monday and was referred to the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
The others are:
> A 29-year-old Malaysian who arrived at LCCT on AirAsia AK 747 on Friday at 9pm.
> A Malaysian, 43, who came home from the Philippines on board MH 705 last Wednesday.
> An 11-year-old Indonesian boy who arrived at the LCCT on board AK 702 on Monday at 1.55pm.
> A 27-year-old Malaysian who travelled to Manila on June 14 on MH704 and returned on Friday on board MH 705.
> A six-month-old baby who returned from California on board CX 873 to Hong Kong and connecting flight CX 723 back to Malaysia on Friday at 3.30pm.
> A 19-year-old student who returned from Melbourne on Saturday on SQ 238 and arrived at the Changi Airport.
> A 20-year-old Yemeni student studying English at Asian Life Skill Sdn Bhd; the 10th local transmission case. He had contact with the 63rd patient, a Yemeni who came to Malaysia for holidays.
> Another Yemeni, a housemate of the above Yemeni student; the 11th local case.
> A Malaysian stewardess, 38, who was on MH 150 from Amsterdam to KLIA on June 12.
> An eight-year-old boy, who returned from Melbourne on board MH 148. He is the brother of an earlier patient.
In Johor Baru, a 19-year-old female student who returned from Melbourne last Saturday via Singapore’s Changi Airport became the first flu case in Johor.
She was on flight SQ 0238 and had been in Melbourne for the last six months, Johor Women, Family, Community Development and Health committee chairman Dr Robiah Kosai said.
She had returned home from the airport in a taxi, she said.
The student, she said, was being treated at a hospital while her family members had been quarantined at home for a week.
“The 36-year-old taxi driver and his family are also being quarantined at home for a week,” she told a press conference.
Dr Robiah also noted that the patient’s grandmother had died yesterday due to old age.
She said officers from the Health Department would assist the family throughout the burial ceremony so they would not expose anyone else to the flu.
Throat swab tests at 10 more hospitals
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians suspected of having the influenza A (H1N1) virus can take throat swab tests at 10 more hospitals, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.
He said these hospitals were in addition to the 28 designated hospitals which had been conducting the test.
The 10 are Selayang Hospital, Serdang Hospital, Ampang Hospital, Putrajaya Hospital, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital, Seberang Jaya Hospital, Sungai Petani Hospital, Sultan Ismail Hospital and Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital.
The ministry will monitor the situation and add more hospitals to the list, including private ones, if necessary, he told a press conference after chairing a technical committee on influenza A yesterday.
On the rapid spread of the virus, Dr Ismail said the country recorded a 400% increase of the cases within one week.
“This is because some patients did not tell us the whole truth about the people they came into contact with.”
Currently, he said, many did not understand the meaning of self-quarantine.
“Some parents still send their children to religious classes after the day schools they go to have been closed,” he said.
He said the ministry had also decided to give a two-day dose of Tamiflu to flight passengers who arrived at the country and detected with fever before they go home for self-quarantine.
“We will take throat swabs from these people and they will only be required to go to the hospitals if they test positive for influenza A.”
Patients who show good progress three days after admission would be discharged, he added.
“After that, we will allow them to stay at home to finish their medication. This is due to the increasing number of patients. We want to reduce the number of hospital admissions,” he said.
Previously, those who tested positive for the virus had to stay in the hospital for seven days.
On the distribution of Tamiflu, Dr Ismail said the medication would only be given to household contacts — people who came into contact with an infected person for more than four hours and those who had contact with the patient two days before he or she tested positive for the virus. He explained that this was because the medication works best within the first 48 hours a person gets close with the disease.
He said these hospitals were in addition to the 28 designated hospitals which had been conducting the test.
The 10 are Selayang Hospital, Serdang Hospital, Ampang Hospital, Putrajaya Hospital, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital, Seberang Jaya Hospital, Sungai Petani Hospital, Sultan Ismail Hospital and Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Hospital.
The ministry will monitor the situation and add more hospitals to the list, including private ones, if necessary, he told a press conference after chairing a technical committee on influenza A yesterday.
On the rapid spread of the virus, Dr Ismail said the country recorded a 400% increase of the cases within one week.
“This is because some patients did not tell us the whole truth about the people they came into contact with.”
Currently, he said, many did not understand the meaning of self-quarantine.
“Some parents still send their children to religious classes after the day schools they go to have been closed,” he said.
He said the ministry had also decided to give a two-day dose of Tamiflu to flight passengers who arrived at the country and detected with fever before they go home for self-quarantine.
“We will take throat swabs from these people and they will only be required to go to the hospitals if they test positive for influenza A.”
Patients who show good progress three days after admission would be discharged, he added.
“After that, we will allow them to stay at home to finish their medication. This is due to the increasing number of patients. We want to reduce the number of hospital admissions,” he said.
Previously, those who tested positive for the virus had to stay in the hospital for seven days.
On the distribution of Tamiflu, Dr Ismail said the medication would only be given to household contacts — people who came into contact with an infected person for more than four hours and those who had contact with the patient two days before he or she tested positive for the virus. He explained that this was because the medication works best within the first 48 hours a person gets close with the disease.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Set up task force to deal with A (H1N1), says Mohamed Khaled
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: Public universities have been advised to set up a task force to deal with any possible A (H1N1) cases.
“Although there have been no cases in public universities so far, the task force should be set up as a pre-emptive measure,” Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin told reporters after opening the fifth Asian Mathematical Conference at Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.
With as many as 15,000 new foreign students expected in the July academic intake, Mohamed Khaled urged higher education institutions to be on their toes.
He added that many of the 70,000 foreign students studying in Malaysia would return from holidays and extra attention would have to be given to those arriving from countries that have been badly hit by the virus.
In Kota Kinabalu, Universiti Malaysia Sabah senior deputy registrar Vina Zahriani said they would meet with health authorities to discuss measures that could be taken to prevent any possible spread of the virus in the university.
“If necessary, we will work with the Sabah Medical Department to set up a screening counter,” she said, adding that the university was preparing to register some 3,000 new students next week.
She said they would also work closely with airport authorities to screen students coming in from peninsular Malaysia to register for the 2009/10 intake.
“Although there have been no cases in public universities so far, the task force should be set up as a pre-emptive measure,” Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin told reporters after opening the fifth Asian Mathematical Conference at Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.
With as many as 15,000 new foreign students expected in the July academic intake, Mohamed Khaled urged higher education institutions to be on their toes.
He added that many of the 70,000 foreign students studying in Malaysia would return from holidays and extra attention would have to be given to those arriving from countries that have been badly hit by the virus.
In Kota Kinabalu, Universiti Malaysia Sabah senior deputy registrar Vina Zahriani said they would meet with health authorities to discuss measures that could be taken to prevent any possible spread of the virus in the university.
“If necessary, we will work with the Sabah Medical Department to set up a screening counter,” she said, adding that the university was preparing to register some 3,000 new students next week.
She said they would also work closely with airport authorities to screen students coming in from peninsular Malaysia to register for the 2009/10 intake.
200,000 frontline staff given anti-virus shots
Star: KUALA LUMPUR: About 200,000 personnel on frontline duties have been vaccinated against the seasonal flu virus, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
They included officers with the Police, Civil Defence Department, Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue Department and Immigration Department, he added.
Liow said these personnel were responsible to ensure that the country’s basic services ran smoothly in the event of a pandemic, as outlined in the National Influenza Preparedness Pandemic Plan 2006.
He added that since 2007, frontline personnel had been given annual vaccinations against seasonal flu that contained components of the influenza A (H3N2), influenza A (H1N1) and influenza B viruses.
“However, the seasonal flu virus vaccine is only effective against the known viruses found in the environment,” he said.
“While it not effective against the new strain of the influenza A (H1N1) which is spreading worldwide now, the vaccination process can help protect a person against the risk of an influenza virus mutating,” he told Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam) in Parliament yesterday.
Liow said the World Health Organisation (WHO) and pharmaceutical companies were striving to produce a vaccine to combat the A (H1N1) virus.
“The vaccine is expected to be ready by the end of this year.”
They included officers with the Police, Civil Defence Department, Armed Forces, Fire and Rescue Department and Immigration Department, he added.
Liow said these personnel were responsible to ensure that the country’s basic services ran smoothly in the event of a pandemic, as outlined in the National Influenza Preparedness Pandemic Plan 2006.
He added that since 2007, frontline personnel had been given annual vaccinations against seasonal flu that contained components of the influenza A (H3N2), influenza A (H1N1) and influenza B viruses.
“However, the seasonal flu virus vaccine is only effective against the known viruses found in the environment,” he said.
“While it not effective against the new strain of the influenza A (H1N1) which is spreading worldwide now, the vaccination process can help protect a person against the risk of an influenza virus mutating,” he told Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam) in Parliament yesterday.
Liow said the World Health Organisation (WHO) and pharmaceutical companies were striving to produce a vaccine to combat the A (H1N1) virus.
“The vaccine is expected to be ready by the end of this year.”
Returning students urged to stay home
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Students who travel back from the United States, Britain, Australia and the Philippines are required to practise self-quarantine for seven days.
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said most imported cases reported in the country involved patients who returned from these countries.
“If they develop flu-like symptoms, they must seek treatment immediately. They have to behave,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
He said teachers might also be instructed to take students’ body temperature at school daily so that those who showed flu-like symptoms could be detected early.
“We will discuss this with the Education Ministry tomorrow and decide whether to implement it,” he said.
He said the ministry would also review the checking of health declaration forms filled by in-bound travellers.
“Currently, there have been complaints that such forms were not properly checked by our officers. We might change our approach to ensure that these health declarations are helpful for us to monitor the situation,” he said.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said 10 more cases of influenza A (H1N1) have been reported, two of which are local transmissions, while two more schools have been closed.
He said Seri Cempaka International School was closed after two cases of the disease were confirmed there.
SRK Assunta 1 was also closed yesterday.
Earlier this week, SJK (C) Jalan Davidson and SRK Assunta 2 were shut down.
On Monday, one class each was closed at SMK Damansara Utama, SMK Seksyen 9 Shah Alam and SMK Wangsa Maju Seksyen 2.
The total number of confirmed cases in the country stood at 68 yesterday.
“We now have nine cases of local transmissions. In the latest case involving the Seri Cempaka school, the student is a girl who just returned from Melbourne, and who then infected another student.
“We are monitoring the situation closely. At present, we can still control the infection because we have been able to trace the sources and all their contact persons,” Liow told reporters at the Parliament lobby here.
He reminded Malaysians going overseas to take precautions on matters of personal hygiene.
In Petaling Jaya, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said parents with children in schools which had reported cases of influenza A (H1N1) could let them stay home for the rest of week if the children were feeling unwell.
He added that parents should inform the school but a medical certificate was not needed.
“This is specifically for students in schools which have reported cases of the influenza A (H1N1),” he told reporters after visiting SMK Daman-sara Utama yesterday.
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said most imported cases reported in the country involved patients who returned from these countries.
“If they develop flu-like symptoms, they must seek treatment immediately. They have to behave,” he told a press conference here yesterday.
He said teachers might also be instructed to take students’ body temperature at school daily so that those who showed flu-like symptoms could be detected early.
“We will discuss this with the Education Ministry tomorrow and decide whether to implement it,” he said.
He said the ministry would also review the checking of health declaration forms filled by in-bound travellers.
“Currently, there have been complaints that such forms were not properly checked by our officers. We might change our approach to ensure that these health declarations are helpful for us to monitor the situation,” he said.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said 10 more cases of influenza A (H1N1) have been reported, two of which are local transmissions, while two more schools have been closed.
He said Seri Cempaka International School was closed after two cases of the disease were confirmed there.
SRK Assunta 1 was also closed yesterday.
Earlier this week, SJK (C) Jalan Davidson and SRK Assunta 2 were shut down.
On Monday, one class each was closed at SMK Damansara Utama, SMK Seksyen 9 Shah Alam and SMK Wangsa Maju Seksyen 2.
The total number of confirmed cases in the country stood at 68 yesterday.
“We now have nine cases of local transmissions. In the latest case involving the Seri Cempaka school, the student is a girl who just returned from Melbourne, and who then infected another student.
“We are monitoring the situation closely. At present, we can still control the infection because we have been able to trace the sources and all their contact persons,” Liow told reporters at the Parliament lobby here.
He reminded Malaysians going overseas to take precautions on matters of personal hygiene.
In Petaling Jaya, Education director-general Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said parents with children in schools which had reported cases of influenza A (H1N1) could let them stay home for the rest of week if the children were feeling unwell.
He added that parents should inform the school but a medical certificate was not needed.
“This is specifically for students in schools which have reported cases of the influenza A (H1N1),” he told reporters after visiting SMK Daman-sara Utama yesterday.
Influenza A: No blanket shutdown for schools
NST: PUTRAJAYA: There will be no blanket closure of schools or a ban on public gatherings for now.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said “social distancing” in the Klang Valley was not needed yet as the closure of four schools after several students came down with influenza A (H1N1) was sufficient. This is because strict preventive and management measures had been put in place.
However, this decision may change as a technical committee chaired by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican is meeting today to discuss ways to stop the spread of the virus.
Up for discussion is the possibility of closing schools in the Klang Valley if there are more local transmissions.
Earlier in the day, Muhyiddin, speaking to reporters after a dialogue session with heads of Malaysian missions at the Seventh Heads of Mission Conference at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday, said the government would step up vigilance to contain the outbreak.
“Do not be too alarmed about it. We will manage the situation.
I wouldn’t want to predict that possibility (blanket social distancing measures) until and unless there is “We don’t want the people to
be unnecessarily alarmed, (considering) the effect that (social distancing) would have on the Klang Valley if this action is taken without proper considerations. ”
Muhyiddin, who is also National Security Council chairman, said the Health Ministry had been directed to organise briefing sessions for teachers and parents to address issues concerning the closure of schools to give them updates on the H1N1 outbreak.
Asked if the government was expecting the pandemic to worsen, Muhyiddin said Malaysia would continue keeping its guard up and follow the protocols in managing H1N1, as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“I want things to get better but, as you know, there is a lot of mobility not only within but outside the country, and people from all over the place still come to Malaysia.”
He said WHO had to come up with some broad understanding on the additional steps that needed to be taken to contain the pandemic.
Asked if Malaysia would push for countries with confirmed cases to impose exit health screening, he said the matter had been raised but there was no consensus.
“Until there is a consensus on what mode and steps are to be taken globally, we will adopt the present arrangement."
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said “social distancing” in the Klang Valley was not needed yet as the closure of four schools after several students came down with influenza A (H1N1) was sufficient. This is because strict preventive and management measures had been put in place.
However, this decision may change as a technical committee chaired by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican is meeting today to discuss ways to stop the spread of the virus.
Up for discussion is the possibility of closing schools in the Klang Valley if there are more local transmissions.
Earlier in the day, Muhyiddin, speaking to reporters after a dialogue session with heads of Malaysian missions at the Seventh Heads of Mission Conference at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday, said the government would step up vigilance to contain the outbreak.
“Do not be too alarmed about it. We will manage the situation.
I wouldn’t want to predict that possibility (blanket social distancing measures) until and unless there is “We don’t want the people to
be unnecessarily alarmed, (considering) the effect that (social distancing) would have on the Klang Valley if this action is taken without proper considerations. ”
Muhyiddin, who is also National Security Council chairman, said the Health Ministry had been directed to organise briefing sessions for teachers and parents to address issues concerning the closure of schools to give them updates on the H1N1 outbreak.
Asked if the government was expecting the pandemic to worsen, Muhyiddin said Malaysia would continue keeping its guard up and follow the protocols in managing H1N1, as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“I want things to get better but, as you know, there is a lot of mobility not only within but outside the country, and people from all over the place still come to Malaysia.”
He said WHO had to come up with some broad understanding on the additional steps that needed to be taken to contain the pandemic.
Asked if Malaysia would push for countries with confirmed cases to impose exit health screening, he said the matter had been raised but there was no consensus.
“Until there is a consensus on what mode and steps are to be taken globally, we will adopt the present arrangement."
More youth getting HIV/AIDS
NST: KOTA BARU: The high number of youth involved in drugs and unprotected sex contributed to the rising number of HIV/AIDS cases.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said from a total of 84,630 cases of HIV/AIDS reported in the country from 1986 to last year, 78.4 per cent involved those aged between 13 and 39.
"It is enough to give us a picture that they started involvement in such high risk activity at an early age, that is while they were still at school," he said at the launching of the national level Schools Healthy Programme for Youth (Program Sihat Untuk Remaja -- Prostar) here yesterday.
The text of his speech was read by the ministry's health education director Abdul Jabar Ahmad.
Liow said a study carried out by the ministry in 2006 showed that only about 50 per cent of 12,784 respondents had a high knowledge about the transmission of the disease while of 640 respondents aged 13 and 14, only 210 were knowledgeable about it.
The minister said the government had taken proactive action in handling the issue, including ensuring at least 95 per cent of those aged between 15 and 24 received information about HIV/AIDS by 2010.
He said as youth problems were not limited to HIV/AIDS, the ministry had enlarged the Prostar programme to include other unhealthy trends like eating habits which led to obesity, smoking and lack of physical activity.
Liow said, according to the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (Maso), 21.4 per cent of urban youth and 16 per cent of rural youth faced obesity problems.
"This situation has led to Prostar, which was previously known as Healthy Programme Without AIDS for Youth, to be changed to Healthy Programme for Youth without changing the initials."
Liow said the health education division was working with the Education Ministry to make the Schools Prostar accepted as a co-curriculum activity at secondary schools.
More than 100 facilitators and co-ordinators took part in the four-day convention which started on Monday.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said from a total of 84,630 cases of HIV/AIDS reported in the country from 1986 to last year, 78.4 per cent involved those aged between 13 and 39.
"It is enough to give us a picture that they started involvement in such high risk activity at an early age, that is while they were still at school," he said at the launching of the national level Schools Healthy Programme for Youth (Program Sihat Untuk Remaja -- Prostar) here yesterday.
The text of his speech was read by the ministry's health education director Abdul Jabar Ahmad.
Liow said a study carried out by the ministry in 2006 showed that only about 50 per cent of 12,784 respondents had a high knowledge about the transmission of the disease while of 640 respondents aged 13 and 14, only 210 were knowledgeable about it.
The minister said the government had taken proactive action in handling the issue, including ensuring at least 95 per cent of those aged between 15 and 24 received information about HIV/AIDS by 2010.
He said as youth problems were not limited to HIV/AIDS, the ministry had enlarged the Prostar programme to include other unhealthy trends like eating habits which led to obesity, smoking and lack of physical activity.
Liow said, according to the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (Maso), 21.4 per cent of urban youth and 16 per cent of rural youth faced obesity problems.
"This situation has led to Prostar, which was previously known as Healthy Programme Without AIDS for Youth, to be changed to Healthy Programme for Youth without changing the initials."
Liow said the health education division was working with the Education Ministry to make the Schools Prostar accepted as a co-curriculum activity at secondary schools.
More than 100 facilitators and co-ordinators took part in the four-day convention which started on Monday.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Second school hit by A (H1N1)
Star: PETALING JAYA: The SRK Assunta 2 here has been directed to close for a week beginning yesterday following a locally-transmitted case of influenza A (H1N1) detected at the school, making it the second school closure due to the disease.
Four other schools – Seri Cempaka International School in Batu 9, Cheras; SMK Seksyen 9 Shah Alam; SMK Damansara Utama in Petaling Jaya and SM Wangsa Maju in Kuala Lumpur – have each had one class stopped from yesterday.
With the exception of SM Wangsa Maju, where the closure order is until Thursday, students in the affected classes of the three remaining schools will have to skip school until Saturday.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told a press conference here yesterday that an 11-year-old pupil from SRK Assunta 2 tested positive for the virus yesterday, which resulted in the closure of the school with immediate effect.
He said SRK Assunta 2 would reopen on June 29, while SRK Assunta 1, which shares the same building and is the afternoon session of the school, was not affected by the closure.
Liow said only those schools where local transmissions were detected would be closed.
He urged parents not to panic, adding that children from affected schools must observe all home quarantine guidelines.
“They must stay at home and observe good hygiene.
“They must not go out for activities or tuition classes during home quarantine,” Liow said, adding that the family members of the students need not come under home quarantine.
Yesterday, it was reported that the SJK (C) Jalan Davidson in Kuala Lumpur, where an 11-year-old was confirmed to have been infected with the virus, was shut down until Friday after two more pupils fell ill.
On calls to close all schools, Liow said the Government would consider the proposal when the situation warranted it.
Meanwhile, health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said three new locally-transmitted cases were detected in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to seven.
The three cases were among eight fresh cases of influenza A (H1N1) recorded yesterday, bringing the total number in the country to 58.
The five others were imported cases from Australia, Britain, the Philippines and Thailand.
Four other schools – Seri Cempaka International School in Batu 9, Cheras; SMK Seksyen 9 Shah Alam; SMK Damansara Utama in Petaling Jaya and SM Wangsa Maju in Kuala Lumpur – have each had one class stopped from yesterday.
With the exception of SM Wangsa Maju, where the closure order is until Thursday, students in the affected classes of the three remaining schools will have to skip school until Saturday.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai told a press conference here yesterday that an 11-year-old pupil from SRK Assunta 2 tested positive for the virus yesterday, which resulted in the closure of the school with immediate effect.
He said SRK Assunta 2 would reopen on June 29, while SRK Assunta 1, which shares the same building and is the afternoon session of the school, was not affected by the closure.
Liow said only those schools where local transmissions were detected would be closed.
He urged parents not to panic, adding that children from affected schools must observe all home quarantine guidelines.
“They must stay at home and observe good hygiene.
“They must not go out for activities or tuition classes during home quarantine,” Liow said, adding that the family members of the students need not come under home quarantine.
Yesterday, it was reported that the SJK (C) Jalan Davidson in Kuala Lumpur, where an 11-year-old was confirmed to have been infected with the virus, was shut down until Friday after two more pupils fell ill.
On calls to close all schools, Liow said the Government would consider the proposal when the situation warranted it.
Meanwhile, health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said three new locally-transmitted cases were detected in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to seven.
The three cases were among eight fresh cases of influenza A (H1N1) recorded yesterday, bringing the total number in the country to 58.
The five others were imported cases from Australia, Britain, the Philippines and Thailand.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Foreigners owe govt hospitals RM12.8mil
Star: FOREIGNERS owe government hospitals RM12.8mil, Berita Minggu reported.
Of the figure, 27% is for post-natal care, 12% for accident treatment, 9% for orthopaedic surgery and the balance for outpatient care.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said this figure was double the RM6.7mil owed in 2000.
“Indonesian nationals owe 47%, Indians and Filipinos owe 17%, while the rest is owed by Myanmar, Bangladeshis, Vietnamese and Thais.”
He said that if every foreign labourer who entered Malaysia was required to have health insurance, this problem could be solved.
Of the figure, 27% is for post-natal care, 12% for accident treatment, 9% for orthopaedic surgery and the balance for outpatient care.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said this figure was double the RM6.7mil owed in 2000.
“Indonesian nationals owe 47%, Indians and Filipinos owe 17%, while the rest is owed by Myanmar, Bangladeshis, Vietnamese and Thais.”
He said that if every foreign labourer who entered Malaysia was required to have health insurance, this problem could be solved.
Number of cases reaches 50
NST: KUALA LUMPUR: Four students and a graduate were among the eight new H1N1 influenza cases reported in the last 24 hours, bringing to 50 the number of infections in the country.
The eight new cases included two local transmissions -- two Year Five pupils of SJK (C) Jalan Davidson who contracted the virus from their classmate who had returned from Melbourne on Tuesday.
One of the pupils showed symptoms on June 19 and was admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital the next day, while the other pupil has been admitted to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Two other cases involving students were also detected -- a Year Five pupil of Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Assunta 2, Petaling Jaya, and a Form Four student of Sekolah Menengah Section 9, Shah Alam.
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the Assunta 2 pupil (designated as case 43) was also in Melbourne between June 4 and 14 for a holiday, while the Form Four student (case 45) came down with the flu after returning from the United States on Monday.
The Form Four student's sister (case 47) and another family member (case 28) were also infected. They went to the US with another family member.
They returned to KLIA on June 15 via Korea Airlines flight KE671.
Dr Ismail urged both schools to contact the district health department to enforce a seven-day quarantine for classmates of the infected pupils.
The bank where Case 47 works at has been urged to contact the Federal Territory Health Department to trace the people whom the 22-year-old may have come into contact with.
Among the other new cases were a University of Toronto graduate (case 48) who attended his convocation in the Canadian city. The 21-year-old had also flown to KLIA on Korea Airlines flight KE 671, before returning to his hometown of Alor Star on Firefly flight FY 2168 on June 14.
"Three of his five contacts have been admitted to the hospital's isolation ward for fever, while the other two have been placed under home quarantine," Dr Ismail said.
The sole foreigner detected with the disease yesterday was from Thailand.
The sailor, 33, of a cargo ship, arrived at Port Klang on Friday. The ship crew has been quarantined since Wednesday.
The eight new cases included two local transmissions -- two Year Five pupils of SJK (C) Jalan Davidson who contracted the virus from their classmate who had returned from Melbourne on Tuesday.
One of the pupils showed symptoms on June 19 and was admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital the next day, while the other pupil has been admitted to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Two other cases involving students were also detected -- a Year Five pupil of Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Assunta 2, Petaling Jaya, and a Form Four student of Sekolah Menengah Section 9, Shah Alam.
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the Assunta 2 pupil (designated as case 43) was also in Melbourne between June 4 and 14 for a holiday, while the Form Four student (case 45) came down with the flu after returning from the United States on Monday.
The Form Four student's sister (case 47) and another family member (case 28) were also infected. They went to the US with another family member.
They returned to KLIA on June 15 via Korea Airlines flight KE671.
Dr Ismail urged both schools to contact the district health department to enforce a seven-day quarantine for classmates of the infected pupils.
The bank where Case 47 works at has been urged to contact the Federal Territory Health Department to trace the people whom the 22-year-old may have come into contact with.
Among the other new cases were a University of Toronto graduate (case 48) who attended his convocation in the Canadian city. The 21-year-old had also flown to KLIA on Korea Airlines flight KE 671, before returning to his hometown of Alor Star on Firefly flight FY 2168 on June 14.
"Three of his five contacts have been admitted to the hospital's isolation ward for fever, while the other two have been placed under home quarantine," Dr Ismail said.
The sole foreigner detected with the disease yesterday was from Thailand.
The sailor, 33, of a cargo ship, arrived at Port Klang on Friday. The ship crew has been quarantined since Wednesday.
Return of diseases linked to foreign workers
Star: PUTRAJAYA: Infectious diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy which almost disappeared in Malaysia since two decades ago have made a comeback and this can be traced to the millions of foreign workers and illegal immigrants in the country.
There were 16,325 confirmed cases of tuberculosis (14,275 Malaysians and 2,050 foreigners) last year, second only to dengue fever with 17,047 confirmed cases.
Of the 152 confirmed leprosy cases last year, 99 were Malaysians and 53 foreigners.
The two diseases are among the 27 infectious diseases in the Health Ministry’s radar.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the rising incidence of tuberculosis could be attributed to, among others, foreign workers and illegal immigrants.
“A total of 10,517 foreign workers failed to get their work permits last year because they had tuberculosis. They made up 28% of the 37,503 who were declared unfit for work permits that year,” Liow told The Star.
But what worries him is the estimated one million or more illegal immigrants – often referred to as “illegal foreign workers” – in the country.
“What we (ministry) are concerned about are the infectious diseases among the illegals which may serve as a hidden source of infection to our local population.
“It can be any type of disease – the existing ones, new ones or even those already wiped out in Malaysia,” he lamented.
Liow pointed out that disease transmission could get out of hand when foreign workers mingled with illegal immigrants.
Although the authorities were monitoring the situation, Liow urged employers to ensure that their foreign workers sought early treatment if they were unwell.
He also reminded them to provide the foreign workers with decent housing and give them adequate rest.
There are an estimated one million illegal immigrants in Malaysia, mostly Indonesians, Filipinos, Bangladeshis, Myanmars and Indians, but many believe the numbers may be higher.
There were 74,134 cases of confirmed infectious diseases in Malaysia last year. Of these, 68,424 were Malaysians and 5,710 foreigners.
And 2,050 or 36% of the 5,710 foreigners had tuberculosis.
Liow said between 7.2% and 8.1% of notified cases of infectious diseases between 2005 and 2008 involved foreigners.
There were 16,325 confirmed cases of tuberculosis (14,275 Malaysians and 2,050 foreigners) last year, second only to dengue fever with 17,047 confirmed cases.
Of the 152 confirmed leprosy cases last year, 99 were Malaysians and 53 foreigners.
The two diseases are among the 27 infectious diseases in the Health Ministry’s radar.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the rising incidence of tuberculosis could be attributed to, among others, foreign workers and illegal immigrants.
“A total of 10,517 foreign workers failed to get their work permits last year because they had tuberculosis. They made up 28% of the 37,503 who were declared unfit for work permits that year,” Liow told The Star.
But what worries him is the estimated one million or more illegal immigrants – often referred to as “illegal foreign workers” – in the country.
“What we (ministry) are concerned about are the infectious diseases among the illegals which may serve as a hidden source of infection to our local population.
“It can be any type of disease – the existing ones, new ones or even those already wiped out in Malaysia,” he lamented.
Liow pointed out that disease transmission could get out of hand when foreign workers mingled with illegal immigrants.
Although the authorities were monitoring the situation, Liow urged employers to ensure that their foreign workers sought early treatment if they were unwell.
He also reminded them to provide the foreign workers with decent housing and give them adequate rest.
There are an estimated one million illegal immigrants in Malaysia, mostly Indonesians, Filipinos, Bangladeshis, Myanmars and Indians, but many believe the numbers may be higher.
There were 74,134 cases of confirmed infectious diseases in Malaysia last year. Of these, 68,424 were Malaysians and 5,710 foreigners.
And 2,050 or 36% of the 5,710 foreigners had tuberculosis.
Liow said between 7.2% and 8.1% of notified cases of infectious diseases between 2005 and 2008 involved foreigners.
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