Current Issue: H1N1 case..

PUTRAJAYA, Wed: Thirty-eight new Influenza A(H1N1) cases, comprising 33 imported cases and five local transmissions, were reported today, bringing the total number of H1N1 cases in the country to 196.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said out of the 38 cases, 30 involved Malaysians, five were Indonesians and the other three were a Swede, a Palestinian and an Argentinean.He said the locally-infected cases involved three students of Sekolah Menengah Tsun Jin, Jalan Loke Yew Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, while the other two were contacts to the 143rd and 147th case, respectively.Currently, 86 patients were still receiving treatment for H1N1 and 110 patients had recovered from the disease, he added.Liow said two schools -- Sekolah Menengah Tsun Jin Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, and Sekolah Tinggi Chung Hwa, Seremban -- remain closed due to the H1N1 pandemic.

The number of quarantine cases was 4,668 and their quarantine period would end this Friday, he added.Liow also said that 29 more health clinics and five private hospitals in the Klang Valley are now equipped with facilities to conduct throat swab sample test to check for H1N1.

The private hospitals are Sunway Medical Centre, Pantai Medical Centre, Sime Darby Medical Centre, Gleaneagles Intan Medical Centre and Prince Court HospitalHe also said that the use of the rapid test kit to test for Influenza A(H1N1) was not allowed as it was not specifically made to detect H1N1.Liow also clarified that visitors entering the country would be quarantined or admitted to hospitals only if they had symptoms of being infected by H1N1.

For those in the same flight with a confirmed case, only those occupying the three seats nearest to the patient would be placed under quarantine, he added.On the current Influenza A(H1N1) situation in the country, Liow said it was serious but under control, and advised the public to take the necessary precaution against being infected by the disease."Many people say this pandemic does not have a high fatality, not serious. Actually it is serious and everybody should take the necessary measures to prevent the disease from spreading," he added.He said all business premises, including factories, were also advised to take necessary precautions against H1N1. - BERNAMA (source:NSTP - 1 July 09)

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How does the influenza A (H1N1) virus spread?
Spread of this new virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What should I do to keep from getting infected by the influenza A (H1N1) virus?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

How do you know have Influenza?
Seasonal Influenza:
• Fever
• Headache
• Aching muscles
• Exhaustion and feeling weak
• Loss of appetite
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Dry cough

How do you reduce the chances of spreading influenza?
• Don’t share eating utensils and drinking glasses.
• Clean utensils used by sick people or surfaces they touch with warm, soapy water or disinfectant.
• Avoid crowded situations that place you in close contact with others.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking makes it easier to catch influenza and increases the likelihood of serious complications.
• Stay home if sick with a fever or cough.


What measures you should take if traveling?
• As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important preventive practices is careful and frequent hand washing. Cleaning your hands often, using either soap and water (or waterless, alcohol-based hand rubs when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled), removes potentially infectious materials from your skin and helps prevent disease transmission.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

* Suggested Hand Hygiene Technique:-