With the latest cases, the total number of people infected stands at 468. 

 

PUTRAJAYA: The number of new influenza A (H1N1) cases in the country dipped slightly to 34 yesterday, of which 22 were imported and 12 locally transmitted, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Of that, said Liow, 335, or 72% of them, have since been discharged with only 133 patients still in hospital.

The new cases involved 24 Malaysians and 10 foreigners – five Indonesians, three Australians, an American and a Dane.

He also said that another participant at the Asia-Pacific Pharmaceutical Conference, which was held in Penang from June 27 to 30, has been confirmed to be infected with the virus, taking to 26 the number of those who were infected at the conference.

Meanwhile, in Miri, an entire family of five has been infected with the virus.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the five were a couple and their three children, aged three, six and seven.

“None of them are in serious condition. They are all being treated at the Miri General Hospital,” he said,

The children and their mother were infected by the father who contracted the virus after returning from Brunei.

In another development, the Miri Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans to initiate its own health screening campaign in schools under its patronage.

More than 3,000 students in two schools – Sekolah Menengah Chung Hua Miri and Sekolah Rendah Cina Chung Hua Miri – will be affected.

Its president Datuk Sim Hock Guan said the chamber has placed orders for the necessary health equipment.

They are expected to arrive in the next two days.

“Every day students will undergo temperature checks and be monitored for any signs of flu.

“We are taking this pro-active measure to help the authorities deal with this growing problem,” Sim said.

He noted that the health authorities in Miri were stretched thin due to the city’s huge population of 300,000 scattered all over.

 

Source from: The Star