The Star - H1N1 cases

Friday July 31, 2009

36 more influenza A (H1N1) cases recorded in the country

Reports by AUDREY EDWARDS, YUEN MEIKENG, ANTHONY TAN, TAN SIN CHOW, IVAN LOH, RUBEN SARIO and SIMON KHOO

PETALING JAYA: There are 36 new influenza A (H1N1) cases in the country, and all are local transmissions.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said 32 were from seven new clusters while three cases were from SM Agama Kota Kinabalu.

“The remaining sporadic case is a 22-year-old woman who has been admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital. She had fever a week ago and tested positive for the flu after a throat swab was taken,” he said in a statement on the ministry’s website yesterday.

As of yesterday, the total number of cases stood at 1,302 and 98% of the patients have recovered, while 1%, or 19 patients, were undergoing anti-viral treatment in hospitals. No new deaths were recorded.

“Another 1%, or 11 patients, are being treated in their respective houses,” he said.

The seven new clusters include SM Khir Johari in Beranang, SM Teknik in Sepang, Sekolah Seri Cahaya in Shah Alam and SK Serendah.

Dr Ismail said the ministry was confident that the influenza would be contained with co-operation from all parties.

In Ipoh, the Perak government confirmed 45 cases, with more institutions of learning being closed.

State Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon there were 2,589 influenza-like illness (ILI) cases in the state.

Two other institutions of learning closed on Wednesday were SMK Gerik and the Jiwa Murni National Training Camp in Kerian.

Other institutions closed were the Tangkas Kendiri PLKN camp in Sauk, SMK Agama Bidor, SMK Lasah Sungai Siput and the Royal Malaysian Navy KD Pelandok training centre in Lumut,

In Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Health and Medical Services Department director Dr Yusof Ibrahim said 10 schools have been temporarily closed after some of their students tested positive for the A (H1N1) virus.

Among the latest were the SK Stella Marris Primary School in Tanjung Aru and Yu Yuan Secondary School in Sandakan.

In Pahang, three schools — SM Abdul Rahman Talib in Kuantan, SM Sains Tengku Abdullah in Raub and SM Clifford in Kuala Lipis — have been closed for a week from today.

In Penang, the number of places closed has risen to 19.

The three more places ordered closed for a week from yesterday were the Tuanku Bainun Teachers Training College in Bukit Mertajam, SMK Permatang Pasir in central Seberang Prai and the Al Iqan religious school in Teluk Kumbar.


The Star : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/31/nation/4428170&sec=nation