Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=420256
June 23, 2009 20:36 PM
Liow: Resources Risk Being Stretched Thin
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- With more Influenza A (H1N1) cases being reported, rising local transmission cases and more schools being closed, the health authority has warned that its manpower and resources will be stretched thin -- unless the public take heed to preventive and quarantine orders.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the health authority was not only facing an arduous task to contain and prevent the wide spread of the Influenza A(H1N1), but also other communicable disease such as dengue.
"We are battling two wars now, one on dengue and another on H1N1, all at the same time. We have already frozen annual leave and recalled staff from leave to tackle this.
"I'm very concerned that the situation will get worse. The worst that will happen is that our manpower will be stretched thin," he told Bernama here Tuesday.
To overcome the problem, Liow said the ministry had deployed personnel from other states to the Klang Valley to help the local health authority to contain the Influenza A(H1N1).
"The biggest concern is the Klang Valley. This is the most populated area, as well as the main entry point to the country. If any outbreak happens here, it can spread easily.
"We are already working very hard to contain this. That is why, we ordered the closure of four schools, affecting more than a thousand students. If more cases are reported in the schools and the situation gets worse, we will have no choice but tp recommend to the National Security Council to close the schools in Klang Valley," he added.
SJK (C) Jalan Davidson here and SRK Assunta 2 in Petaling Jaya were earlier ordered closed after students were confirmed contracting the virus while today, two more schools -- Seri Cempaka International School in Batu 9, Cheras and SRK Assunta 1 in Petaling Jaya were ordered to be closed for a week.
However, Liow said the health authority was still very much in control of the situation but stressed that the public must take precautionary and preventive measures seriously -- such as the quarantine order and seeking treatment immediately if they come down with flu or fever.
"We don't want people to break any quarantine order. That is important. Treat it seriously and don't jeopardise others," he added.
Liow said the ministry's technical committee chaired by Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican would hold its meeting on Wednesday, to evaluate the current preventive measures to determine whether they needed to add in new measures since the virus had caused three schools to be closed.
"Any additional measure recommended by the technical committee, will be forwarded to the inter-ministerial committee to be adopted," said the minister.
Obviously, striking a balance between raising awareness and not causing panic is a delicate act, but Liow said what was important was that all preventive measures were taken seriously.
-- BERNAMA
June 23, 2009 20:36 PM
Liow: Resources Risk Being Stretched Thin
KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- With more Influenza A (H1N1) cases being reported, rising local transmission cases and more schools being closed, the health authority has warned that its manpower and resources will be stretched thin -- unless the public take heed to preventive and quarantine orders.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the health authority was not only facing an arduous task to contain and prevent the wide spread of the Influenza A(H1N1), but also other communicable disease such as dengue.
"We are battling two wars now, one on dengue and another on H1N1, all at the same time. We have already frozen annual leave and recalled staff from leave to tackle this.
"I'm very concerned that the situation will get worse. The worst that will happen is that our manpower will be stretched thin," he told Bernama here Tuesday.
To overcome the problem, Liow said the ministry had deployed personnel from other states to the Klang Valley to help the local health authority to contain the Influenza A(H1N1).
"The biggest concern is the Klang Valley. This is the most populated area, as well as the main entry point to the country. If any outbreak happens here, it can spread easily.
"We are already working very hard to contain this. That is why, we ordered the closure of four schools, affecting more than a thousand students. If more cases are reported in the schools and the situation gets worse, we will have no choice but tp recommend to the National Security Council to close the schools in Klang Valley," he added.
SJK (C) Jalan Davidson here and SRK Assunta 2 in Petaling Jaya were earlier ordered closed after students were confirmed contracting the virus while today, two more schools -- Seri Cempaka International School in Batu 9, Cheras and SRK Assunta 1 in Petaling Jaya were ordered to be closed for a week.
However, Liow said the health authority was still very much in control of the situation but stressed that the public must take precautionary and preventive measures seriously -- such as the quarantine order and seeking treatment immediately if they come down with flu or fever.
"We don't want people to break any quarantine order. That is important. Treat it seriously and don't jeopardise others," he added.
Liow said the ministry's technical committee chaired by Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican would hold its meeting on Wednesday, to evaluate the current preventive measures to determine whether they needed to add in new measures since the virus had caused three schools to be closed.
"Any additional measure recommended by the technical committee, will be forwarded to the inter-ministerial committee to be adopted," said the minister.
Obviously, striking a balance between raising awareness and not causing panic is a delicate act, but Liow said what was important was that all preventive measures were taken seriously.
-- BERNAMA
