Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/20/nation/20090520155340&sec=nation


Published: Wednesday May 20, 2009 MYT 3:52:00 PM
Updated: Wednesday May 20, 2009 MYT 4:16:50 PM

NS camps hit by flu, food poisoning


PETALING JAYA: It was not a good week for National Service trainees with two different camps being hit, the first by influenza and the second by food poisoning.
The Health Ministry sent out an alert about the spread of suspected influenza at the National Service Training Centre in Setia Ikhlas, Semenyih.
To date, 30 trainees have started showing symptoms of fever, light cough, sore throat and aching muscles beginning last Thursday.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said 26 of the trainees were being treated at the camp?s isolation room, three were still warded at Kajang Hospital and one has been discharged on Tuesday.
The situation in the camp was being closely monitored by the ministry, he said in a statement Wednesday.
?This involves vector control through fogging, surveillance and daily monitoring of all trainees and referring all suspected cases to nearby hospitals,? he said.
On Tuesday, the ministry confirmed that Influenza B has been identified as the reason why trainees at the Police Training Centre (Pulapah) in Air Hitam near Bahau fell ill.
Last Thursday, a trainee died of acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. The inflammation was brought on by Influenza B.
Subsequently, 29 trainees were placed under observation at the Jempol Hospital.
At the NS training centre in Cancun Park, Pasir Mas, 100 out of 350 participants came down with food poisoning on Wednesday, C.A. ZULKIFLI reports from KOTA BARU.
State Health Department deputy director Dr Wan Mansor Hamzah said 15 of the afflicted had been admitted to the Pasir Mas, Raja Perempuan Zainab II and Perdana Specialist hospitals.
The rest received outpatient treatment at various hospitals in the Pasir Mas and Kota Baru districts.
On April 14, 17 participants at the same camp had also come down with food poisoning after they consumed food that had passed its expiry date. The health department responded by closing down the canteen and the NS centre then engaged a new food caterer.
?This latest incident could have been caused by the fried rice and chicken supplied by another contractor appointed by the food caterer,? Dr Wan Mansor told newsmen at the Pasir Mas hospital after inspecting the centre Wednesday.
There was also another case of food poisoning involving 10 trainees on May 12, caused by poor food handling by the caterer, he added.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/NewsBreak/20090520162152/Article/index_html
2009/05/20
NS camp canteen already closed for bad hygiene ironically causes food poisoning
By : Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah

KOTA BARU, Wed:

The move by Health Department officers to close the canteen at a National Service training camp in Pasir Mas because it was found to be unhygienic subsequently caused 30 trainees to be hit by food poisoning.
This was because the canteen operator at the Cancun Park National Service training camp, unable to prepare food for the trainees, was forced to buy food from elsewhere.

The operator brought packets of fried rice and it was this food, consumed by the trainees, which was believed to have been contaminated.

National Service Training Department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil said today the trainees began having severe stomach pains and vomiting spells at 10.30pm on Tuesday after eating the fried rice for dinner.

He said they were sent to the Perdana Specialist Hospital, where 15 were warded.
"Fifteen trainees received outpatient treatment. (Of those warded) 14 were discharged this (Wednesday) morning after spending a night at the hospital. Only one trainee is still warded and she is free from any danger,? he said in a telephone conversation.

Hadi confirmed that the food was supplied by the canteen operator and that initial investigation showed that the fried rice was contaminated.

He said he had directed the camp commandant and asked the Health Department to monitor the camp regularly. :yinyang:

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

SOurce: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/20090520175724/Article/index_html

NST Online ? Frontpage
2009/05/20
National Service trainees down with flu in Semenyih camp
By : Annie Freeda Cruez


KUALA LUMPUR, Wed:

Thirty national service trainees from a camp in Semenyih, Selangor, are down with influenza. The trainees from Setia Ikhlas camp have been down with fever, cough, sore throat and body ache since May 14.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said 26 of them have been isolated and are receiving treatment at the camp while three others were warded at Kajang Hospital.

?One of them is in the intensive care unit while the other two are in the medical ward,? he said, adding that another trainee who was also admitted was discharged on Tuesday night.

He said Health Ministry officials were already at the camp to contain the situation including carrying out fogging activities.

?All trainees are being closely monitored and will be referred to the hospital if their condition warrants medical attention,? said Dr Ismail
As for for 21 cadets from the police training centre in Air Hitam, Jempol who were placed under observation for viral fever at the Jempol Hospital, he said all but four have been discharged.

He said there were no new cases admitted to hospital as of 8am today.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=412465

May 20, 2009 18:28 PM

Suspected Flu Or Dengue Outbreak At Semenyih NS Camp

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- An outbreak of what is suspected to be the normal influenza or dengue has taken place at the Setia Ikhlas national service training camp in Semenyih, Selangor, requiring 30 of the trainees to be given treatment.

These trainees suffered from fever, slight cough, sore throat and body aches, Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said in a statement Wednesday.

He said 26 of the trainees were treated at the isolation room in the camp, three at the Kajang Hospital -- one of them in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) -- while one trainee has been discharged from the hospital.

An official of the Health Department, who declined to be named, said the trainee admitted to the ICU was suspected to have contracted dengue.

He said specimens had been sent for investigation.

"It could be the normal seasonal flu outbreak or dengue. We are still waiting for the test results as both can happen concurrently," he said when contacted by Bernama.

The official gave the assurance that the outbreak was not linked to Influenza A (H1N1).

Dr Ismail said the ministry would take control measures to contain the outbreak, including fogging, monitoring and examination of all trainees, and referring cases to the nearest hospitals.



-- BERN

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=412491
May 20, 2009 19:49 PM

Leptospirosis Patient Still Critical

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- One of nine Leptospirosis patients under treatment at two hospitals in Seberang Prai, Penang is still in critical condition.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the patient was treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Seberang Jaya Hospital.

"Eight patients are being treated at Bukit Mertajam Hospital, one in ICU ward and seven in isolation ward. They are in stable condition," he said in a statement here Wednesday.

Dr Mohd Ismail said no new cases were reported until 8am today and that the Leptospirosis epidemic at Juru detention centre near Bukit Mertajam was under control.

On the Influenza B outbreak among trainees of the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) at Jempol, he said there were no new cases.

As of 8am, four patients were still being treated at Jempol Hospital, Negeri Sembilan. They were in stable condition.



-- BERNAMA

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20090520/tts-reopens-flu-ns-3-kuala-lumpur-with-p-993ba14.html
[NEWS] SUSPECTED FLU OR DENGUE - 3
Bernama
Bernama - Thursday, May 21

Meanwhile, the National Service Training Department advised the parents of the 30 trainees to remain calm and follow the developments.
ADVERTISEMENT

Department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil said all the trainees were being given treatment and closely monitored by the Health Ministry and the Kajang Hospital.

"The doctors are waiting for the results of the blood tests which are expected by tomorrow at the latest (for the patients at the Kajang Hospital)," he said.

He also said that two medical assistants had been sent to the camp to monitor the condition of the other trainees.

Abdul Hadi said the camp commandant and management had been reminded to act swiftly if more trainees experienced flu symptoms.

-- MORE

FLU-NS 4 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

A check by Bernama at the camp showed that the situation was under control and the other 283 trainees were carrying on with their training as usual.

Two male and three female trainees who had fever had been placed in the isolation room of the camp.

Camp commandant Major Muhd Nur Abd Ghani said the 30 trainees were isolated after they developed fever, sore throat, cough and body ache.

"We summoned a doctor from the Kajang Hospital to conduct an examination of the trainees two days ago and found that they had fever. Four trainees had to be warded because their body temperature kept rising," he told Bernama.

Two of these four trainees were allowed to return to the camp while two female trainees were still at the hospital, he added.

-- BERNAMA

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20090520/tts-dbkl-leptospirosis-bm-993ba14_1.html
DBKL TO STEP UP CAMPAIGN AGAINST LEPTOSPIROSIS
Bernama
Bernama - Thursday, May 21

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will step up campaigns to reduce rat population in the capital to prevent the outbreak of leptospirosis.
ADVERTISEMENT

Its Health Department director, Zainol Ariffin Pawanchee said 33,434 rats were caught in the city last year, of which 16,667 by the public in a "RM1 for one rat" campaign.

Of them, 9,959 rats were caught in Chow Kit, 2,569 in Kampung Baru, 3,913 in Pudu Market and 226 in Section 2 Wangsa Maju, he said when contacted today.

He said the hunt for rats campaign would be continued this year as the number of rodents caught in Datuk Keramat Market this year was a cause for concern.

Urging the public to be more hygienic, he said rats scourged for leftover food thrown into the drain.

-- MORE

DBKL-LEPTOSPIROSIS 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR

Thirty-five illegal immigrants from the Juru detention camp were down with leptospirosis since last week. Two of them died of the disease.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals.

Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash.

-- BERNAMA

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/21/nation/3953666&sec=nation
Thursday May 21, 2009
Ministry raises alert on Influenza B


PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry has sent out an alert about the spread of suspected Influenza B at the national service camp in Setia Ikhlas, Semenyih.

Thirty trainees have showed symptoms of fever, light cough, sore throat and aching muscles since last Thursday.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the Influenza A (H1N1) virus has been ruled out.

He said the situation at the camp was being closely monitored.

?This involves vector control through fogging, surveillance and referring all suspected cases to nearby hospitals.?

On Tuesday, the ministry confirmed that Influenza B caused trainees at the Police Training Centre (Pulapah) in Air Hitam near Bahau to fall ill. The confirmation came through laboratory tests.

Last Thursday, a trainee died of acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart. The inflammation was brought on by Influenza B. Subsequently, 29 trainees were placed under observation at the Jempol Hospital.

On the nine detainees from the Immigration Detention Centre in Bukit Mertajam who contracted leptospirosis, Dr Ismail said that one was still listed as critical.

The detainee is in the intensive care unit of the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

Dr Ismail said the outbreak at the camp was now under control.

?There have been no new cases as of 9am Wednesday (yesterday).?

The outbreak has so far claimed two lives. A 21-year-old Myanmar national died on May 12 while another detainee, also from Myanmar, died on Sunday.

Leptospirosis is caused by the bacteria Leptospira. Outbreaks are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, such as rodents, cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.

 

[alert]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

At some point soon, I'm going to stop following these stories. This one is worth posting because it mentions another agent that can produce false alarms for pandemic flu. adenovirus.

By my count, we now have had major news stories out of Malaysia involving: Influenza B, (possible) bacterial meningitis, seasonal flu, Leptospirosis, and now adenovirus. I'm sure I'm leaving something out.

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=412710

25 NS Trainees Still Receiving Treatment



KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- As of 8am today, 25 of the 30 National Service (NS) trainees of the Setia Ikhlas NS camp in Semenyih who were given treatment for an "Influenza-like Illness" yesterday, are still receiving medical treatment.

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican, in a statement here, said the other five were allowed to leave the isolation room of the camp after they were found to be healthy.

"Of the 25 NS traines still undergoing treatment, five are hospitalised (one at the Kajang Hospital and five at the Serdang Hospital) while the remaining 19 are receiving treatment at the camp's isolation room," he said.

He said two of the five NS trainees at the Serdang Hospital were referred to it by the Kajang Hospital while the others were referred straight from the camp.

Dr Ismail said all of them were in stable condition.

According to him, preliminary examinations showed two of the trainees were infected by Adenovirus, a virus which causes respiratory problems.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Dr Ismail said the Leptospirosis outbreak at the Juru Immigration Detention Depot in Bukit Mertajam was under control and that no new cases were brought to hospitals.

As of 8am today, the number of patients hospitalised remained at nine, eight at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital (1 case at the ICU ward and seven at the isolation ward) and one at the ICU ward of the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

All of the them are reported to be in stable condition.

-- BERNAMA

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=413096
Leptospirosis: Situation At Juru Detention Depot Under Control


KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry today announced that the Leptospirosis outbreak at the Juru Immigration Detention Depot, Bukit Mertajam , Penang was under control.

Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said there was no new case reported.

"As at 8am today, the number of cases under hospital treatment remained at nine where eight of them were at Bukit Mertajam Hospital (one warded at the intensive-care unit and seven at the isolation ward) and one at Seberang Jaya Hospital's ICU," he said in a statement here.

He said all the cases were in stable condition.

-- BERNAMA

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

hat tip treyfish:tiphat:
http://www.nst.com.my/Saturday/National/2564234/Article/index_html

2009/05/23
50 students in flu scare

Email to friend Email to Friend Print article Print Article

ALOR STAR: A special ward was set up at Alor Star Hospital to cater to 50 students of a boarding school in Pendang, who were down with fever and cough.
The students, aged between 11 and 16, of Sekolah Model Khas Bukit Jenun were admitted on Thursday, a day after three boarders at the school were admitted at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital after they showed similar symptoms.

State Health Department director Datuk Dr Hasnah Ismail said checks showed the students -- 29 boys and 24 girls in Forms One to Five -- were only suffering from a common cold.

Meanwhile, a parent of one of the sick students, Azizan Ramli, 40, said he was curious how so many students could fall ill at the same time.

"I was informed on Thursday that my son was admitted to the Alor Star Hospital, but there was little information on what was wrong with him.
"I have also not been able to see him since the parents have to take turns to see their children," he said, adding that the parents were required to wear masks.

Also old news - I have not been able to find an update yet.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/23/nation/20090523152611&sec=nation
Published: Saturday May 23, 2009 MYT 3:24:00 PM
Two Leptospirosis patients discharged from hospital

KUALA LUMPUR: Two Leptospirosis patients, treated at the isolation ward of Bukit Mertajam Hospital, Penang were discharged Saturday, said Director General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.

He said the remaining seven Leptospirosis patients from the Immigration detention centre at Juru, Bukit Mertajam were in stable condition and that the situation was under control.

"Six patients are being treated at the isolation ward of Bukit Mertajam Hospital (one was transferred from ICU Friday) and another is treated at the ICU ward of Seberang Jaya Hospital," he said in a statement here Saturday.

Dr Ismail also said the Setia Ikhlas National Service (PLKN) camp in Semenyih, Selangor was free from the influenza-like illness and that all 25 trainees had recovered.

"Six patients treated at hospital have been discharged while 19 trainees treated at the isolation room are allowed to do normal activities," he said.

Meanwhile, 19 of the 54 students of Sekolah Modal Khas in Pendang, Kedah, infected with Influenza A breathing infection were discharged from Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here Saturday.

Until noon, 35 students were still in the hospital ward but their condition were stable and that they did not have high fever and breathing difficulty.

"Laboratory tests showed that the students were infected with a seasonal Influenza A virus that has nothing to do with the Influenza A (H1N1)," said Dr Ismail. - Bernama

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

Bernama.com
General May 23, 2009 15:58 PM

Two Leptospirosis Patients Discharged From Hospital


KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 (Bernama) -- Two Leptospirosis patients treated at the isolation ward of Bukit Mertajam Hospital, Penang have been discharged today, said Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.

He said the remaining seven Leptospirosis patients from the Immigration detention centre at Juru, Bukit Mertajam were in stable condition and that the situation was under control.

"Six patients are treated at the isolation ward of Bukit Mertajam Hospital(one was transferred from ICU yesterday) and another is treated at the ICU ward of Seberang Jaya Hospital," he said in a statement here today.

Dr Ismail also said the Setia Ikhlas National Service (PLKN) camp in Semenyih, Selangor was free from the influenza-like illness and that all 25 trainees have recovered.

"Six patients treated at hospital have been discharged while 19 trainees treated at the isolation room are allowed to do normal activities," he said.

Meanwhile, 19 of the 54 students of Sekolah Modal Khas in Pendang, Kedah, infected with Influenza A breathing infection were discharged from Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital here today.

Until noon, 35 students were still in the hospital ward but their condition were stable and that they did not have high fever and breathing difficulty.

"Laboratory tests showed that the students were infected with a seasonal Influenza A virus that has nothing to do with the Influenza A (H1N1)," said Dr Ismail.

-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=413161

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

Bernama - Sunday, May 24

ALOR SETAR, May 23 (Bernama) -- The Sekolah Model Khas Bukit Jenun, a boarding school in Pendang, has been directed to improve its cleanliness after 53 students who came down with fever and cough were admitted to the Alor Setar Hospital (HAS) and Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) on Wednesday and Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT

State Education Department director Shahidan Abd Rahman said cleanliness at the school compound and hygiene at the canteen needed to be improved to avoid another similar incident which certainly would disrupt classes.

"Three students were admitted in HSB due to fever and common cold while another 50 are at the HAS special ward. All those involved have been given sick leave. They will be allowed to go back to school once cleared by the doctors," he said.

Shahidan added that despite the "outbreak" those not affected will continue with the school session as usual tomorrow (Sunday is a school day in Kedah).

Yesterday, media reports said all the affected students who came down with fever, cough, headache, common cold, nausea and vomiting, were admitted to hospitals.

However, tests conducted by the health Department confirmed that they were affected by the seasonal Influenza A virus and not related to the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

-- BERNAMA
http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20090523/tts-school-health-bm-993ba14.html

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/National/2564927/Article/indexpull_html

Influenza A: All 208 declared free from flu virus
By : Veena Babulal

2009/05/24

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians can breathe a sigh of relief as the two people who contracted infleunza A (H1N1) and 208 people suspected of it are free of the dreaded virus.

Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said as at 8am yesterday, the Institute for Medical Research had cleared all 208 people suspected of carrying the virus.

In a statement, he said this number included another 18 people admitted to isolated wards for the flu over the past two days. They were released after tests confirmed that they were not carrying the virus.

Dr Ismail said only two people had tested positive for the flu and both were discharged last week, on Thursday and Friday.

The alarm was raised on May 15 when a 21-year-old Malaysian student who flew home from Newark, United States, tested positive for the virus and was warded at Hospital Sungai Buloh.
His friend, who had met him upon his return, flew to Penang where she was warded at Penang Hospital on May 16.

Dr Ismail said that of the 138,807 passengers screened so far at various immigration checkpoints, 42 had been referred to hospitals nationwide.

On another heartening note, he said there had been no recorded cases of local transmission.

But he urged the public to take the pandemic seriously by keeping themselves informed. He said updates on the outbreak were available at the Health Ministry's website at www. moh.gov.my.

Further, as of noon yesterday, 35 pupils of Sekolah Modal Khas Pendang in Bukit Jerlun were still warded for respiratory influenza A at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah while the 19 others admitted on Friday had been discharged.

Dr Ismail said that no new cases were warded while all students within the school were in stable condition as none of them displayed signs of high fever and breathing difficulty.

He also said that lab tests showed that the students had contracted a seasonal strain of influenza A.

He stressed that the illness had no relation to the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

He also announced that the Ikhlas Setia National Service Camp was free from influenza-like illness. The 25 trainees treated had been discharged while 19 trainees treated at the isolation wards of the camp had been allowed to resume normal activities.

On another matter, he announced that the leptospirosis outbreak at the Juru Immigration Detention Depot had been brought under control.

As of yesterday, two of the patients had been discharged while seven more remained in hospital.

One of the seven was moved out of the intensive care unit into the isolation ward with five others, while another patient remained in the ICU.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has entered the list of nations involved in the pandemic with its first case.

It would be interesting to know which influenza A virus had affected the students of Sekolah Modal Khas Pendang in Bukit Jerlun.

 

[alert]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

It would be interesting to know which influenza A virus had affected the students of Sekolah Modal Khas Pendang in Bukit Jerlun.

There are really only two possibilites, the seasonal H1N1, and the seasonal H3N2, and my hunch is the seasonal H1N1, because if it were H3N2, they would say that. They might not mention seasonal H1N1 to avoid confusing and panic.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=413525
68 Kuantan MRSM Students Discharged


KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- Sixty-eight of 199 Kuantan Mara Science College (MRSM) students, who were placed in isolated rooms in the college, have been cleared of influenza A (H1N1) virus and allowed to go home.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the remaining 131 students were still placed under observation.

He said the students were infected with the seasonal influenza H3 which had nothing to do with influenza A(H1N1).

"A medical team visits the college twice a day to check on their condition. None of the students had been admitted to the hospital," he said in a statement today.

In Kedah, 12 of 18 students from Sekolah Model Khas Bukit Jenun, Pendang have been discharged from Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah.

"Three more students are expected to be discharged today as their condition have stabilised. There is no new cases among students of the school," said Dr Mohd Ismail.

He said to date 241 cases in the country were freed of influenza A(H1N1) virus with the exception of two on May 15 and 16.

He said of 26 suspected cases of influenza A(H1N1) today, 17 were freed of the virus while tests were being conducted on the remaining nine patients by the Institute of Medical Research.

The World Health Organisation reported that the list of countries affected by influenza A (H1N1) remain unchanged at 44 countries.

"Five more deaths were reported in Mexico, bringing the global death toll to 91," said Dr Mohd Ismail.

On the leptospirosis outbreak at the Juru Immigration Detention Depot, Bukit Mertajam, he said the situation was under control and there was no new cases.

"The remaining seven patients isolated at Bukit Mertajam Hospital and Seberang Jaya Hospital are in stable condition," he said.

-- BERNAMA

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

May 25, 2009 17:16 PM

68 Kuantan MRSM Students Discharged

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- Sixty-eight of 199 Kuantan Mara Science College (MRSM) students, who were placed in isolated rooms in the college, have been cleared of influenza A (H1N1) virus and allowed to go home.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the remaining 131 students were still placed under observation.

He said the students were infected with the seasonal influenza H3 which had nothing to do with influenza A(H1N1).

"A medical team visits the college twice a day to check on their condition. None of the students had been admitted to the hospital," he said in a statement today.

...

It must be a severe form of H3. I do not understand why 131 students would still be isolated if they have confirmed it is just seasonal flu.

 

[alert]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

Note again the level of alarm.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/20090526174932/Article/index_html

H1N1 CRISIS: 17 still under isolation in six hospitals
By : Annie Freeda Cruez

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KUALA LUMPUR, Tues:

As at 8am today, 17 people are still isolated in six hospitals for suspected Influenza A (H1N1) infection. Six are warded at the Sungai Buloh hospital, four at Kuala Lumpur hospital, three at Tuanku Ja’afar hospital in Seremban, two at Queen Elizabeth hospital in Kota Kinabalu and one each at Raja Permaisuri Bainun hospital in Ipoh and Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru. They had been in isolated for 24 hours.


Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said of the total, 10 were cleared of the virus following results from the Institute for Medical Research while the others were awaiting their sample results.

Those cleared will be discharged soon.

On Monday, Malaysia received information from the International Health Regulation (IHR) Focal Point that Taiwan authorities had identified one of two Malaysian passengers onboard flight BR007 from San Francisco to Taipei as positive for Influenza A (H1N1).

The Malaysians had boarded Malaysia Airlines’ MH069 and arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday.

“We identified the two Malaysian passengers. They are in good health but as a precaution, we have quarantined them at the Selangor Health Department where they will be monitored until May 31,” said Dr Ismail.

The Ministry’s National Crisis and Preparedness and Response centre received 269 case notifications since the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) to investigate people with symptoms of the disease.

Of the number, only two were found positive for the disease so far.

According to the World Health Organisation nearly 13,000 people were confirmed infected with the new H1N1 flu strain but the number of countries affected is stable at 46.

The United Nations agency said its labs have confirmed 12,954 infections with the newly discovered strain that has killed 92 people.

Mexico has been most heavily touched by the flu outbreak, which has caused 80 deaths there. The other fatalities have been in the United States, where 10 people have died, and Costa Rica and Canada which have reported one death each.

The WHO said that the airborne virus has now been detected in all regions of the world except for Africa, which has yet to report an H1N1 infection. The biggest pockets outside of North America so far are in Japan, Britain and Spain.

There has been one case confirmed in Taiwan.

Dr Ismail said between 8am on Monday and 8am today, they screened 9,972 individuals who entered the country through various entry points nationwide. Of the number, 5,363 arrived on flights, 660 via sea and 3,949 on land.

“Only three showed symptoms of the disease and were referred to designated hospitals for further examination,” said Dr Ismail.

Since the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1) virusin Mexico, Malaysia has screened 200,959 people of whom 80.9 per cent or 162,504 arrived by flights, 26,436 by land and 12,019 via sea. Of the number, 51 were sent to hospitals for investigation.

Dr Ismail advised Malaysians to be on high alert for the disease although there is no local transmission of the disease.

Malaysians can get more information on Influenza A (H1N1) by going into the ministry website at www.moh.gov.my.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/26/ah1n1flu/3943322&sec=ah1n1flu

Tuesday May 26, 2009
Report cases of A(H1N1), clinics told
By SIMON KHOO

KUANTAN: All district hospitals and health clinics must report cases identified with symptoms of the A(H1N1) flu to the Pahang Health Department with immediate effect, said state Local Government, Environment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun.

Hoh said that private hospitals and clinics should also follow the directive to prevent the virus from spreading.

He said the move was necessary as the virus was yet to be contained worldwide, resulting in authorities being put on high alert at all entry points to Pahang, including tourist attractions such as Tioman Island.

Hoh said that members the public should not be unduly worried although Malaysia had two confirmed cases of the flu.

He said the two cases originated in the United States and were not from a local source.

?I urge Malaysians travelling in the affected countries to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms such as high fever,? he said, adding that they should isolate themselves until tests were done and the results obtained.

The situation in Pahang was under control and there was no cause for alarm as the health authorities were prepared for any eventualities, said Hoh.

He urged people to adopt hygienic practices at all times and wash their hands with soap and water frequently.

?The public should keep track of latest developments as given in statements by authorised personnel such as Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and director-general of health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.

?I hope the public will not believe information created by irresponsible individuals and sent by SMS or email,? he said.

He condemned such acts as they could cause panic and anxiety.

Hoh said that Pahang would act responsibly and give correct information to the people as the issue involved public health and safety.

I would take this to read any flu symptoms.

I am not sure what is meant by the "Situation in Pahang being under control". I am aware the second A/H1N1 case was confirmed there and there is a problem with Dengue.. but?? Please feel free to enlighten me!