kiwibird
Editor, Senior Moderator
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=417704
June 12, 2009 20:44 PM
Malaysia Not In State Of Panic - Health D/G
KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- While the world is on the highest alert in 40 years for the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring it a pandemic, Malaysia however, is not in a state of panic.
Not many people know that the country has been preparing for such an influenza outbreak since 2005, when the health ministry set up the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP).
"We already have this plan, that's why we are not in a state of panic. We have informed all stakeholders and business communities about this plan. They know what to do," said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.
He said the government had set up various committees to coordinate all preventive measures which involved various ministries, and at the same time, increased their surveillance and screening processes at the entry and exit points.
Instructions have also been given to all airlines and health personnel to ensure that health declaration forms were accurately filled by visitors before being allowed to enter the country.
"We have to be tough to protect our people," said Dr Ismail.
"In this era, it is just not possible for drastic measures such as border closing or restriction of travel and the only way we can do is by consistent and continious screening processes at the exit and entry points.
"So far, there has been no local transmission but that doesn't mean it would not happen," he noted.
Dr Ismail said Malaysia was vulnerable to such transmission as more people still needed to travel, adding that the fact remained that many Malaysian students who studied in North America and Europe, were returning home for their summer break.
Local transmission or community spread is where infections cannot be traced to known cases as has been reported in North and South America, while WHO officials are alarmed by a sudden spike of cases in Australia, while the numbers rise in Europe.
If such spread ever occurs here, life will not be easy because Malaysia will then be forced to take measures such as closing down schools and other institutions, while no activities involving mass gathering will be allowed.
"Even your wedding has to be postponed," Dr Ismail said as he warned the public of dire consequences if they did not cooperate and adhered to strict guideliness on prevention measures.
Although Malaysia's preparedness for H1N1 has earned praise from the WHO, the world health agency said Malaysia still needed to prepare for a worst-case scenario.
WHO representative for Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore Dr Han Theru said: "We are worried because not only are we facing influenza A(H1N1) but also the seasonal influenza.
"If these two come together, then the situation can become worse as it will put a lot of strain into the current healthcare and screening system."
WHO's recomendation for a worst-case scenario is understandable as according to experts, there is no widespread immunity to this new strain of H1N1, with the effects far worse than the normal flu.
The latest H1N1 viral strain -- a combination of the previously circulating animal and human strains -- emerged in Mexico in April and since then, 28,820 cases have been confirmed in 83 countries worldwide.
Scientists say the new strain of H1N1 is killing not only those in 'high risk' groups, for example the elderly, the very young and those with compromised immune systems, but also healthy people.
There were three pandemics in the 20th Century: 1918 (Spanish influenza); 1957 (Asian influenza); and 1968 (Hong Kong influenza).
According to the WHO, the 1918 pandemic killed between 40 million and 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the deadliest epidemics in human history.
Malaysia has so far, only confirmed 11 cases but there has been no local transmission. In other words, the disease has not spread locally and the virus has been quickly contained at the carrier level.
With WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan declaring that Influenza A(H1N1) has now entered a pandemic state, it signals all countries to step up their efforts to deal with the disease, but the health agency did not recomend the closing of borders or restricting travel.
-- BERNAMA
June 12, 2009 20:44 PM
Malaysia Not In State Of Panic - Health D/G
KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- While the world is on the highest alert in 40 years for the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring it a pandemic, Malaysia however, is not in a state of panic.
Not many people know that the country has been preparing for such an influenza outbreak since 2005, when the health ministry set up the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP).
"We already have this plan, that's why we are not in a state of panic. We have informed all stakeholders and business communities about this plan. They know what to do," said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.
He said the government had set up various committees to coordinate all preventive measures which involved various ministries, and at the same time, increased their surveillance and screening processes at the entry and exit points.
Instructions have also been given to all airlines and health personnel to ensure that health declaration forms were accurately filled by visitors before being allowed to enter the country.
"We have to be tough to protect our people," said Dr Ismail.
"In this era, it is just not possible for drastic measures such as border closing or restriction of travel and the only way we can do is by consistent and continious screening processes at the exit and entry points.
"So far, there has been no local transmission but that doesn't mean it would not happen," he noted.
Dr Ismail said Malaysia was vulnerable to such transmission as more people still needed to travel, adding that the fact remained that many Malaysian students who studied in North America and Europe, were returning home for their summer break.
Local transmission or community spread is where infections cannot be traced to known cases as has been reported in North and South America, while WHO officials are alarmed by a sudden spike of cases in Australia, while the numbers rise in Europe.
If such spread ever occurs here, life will not be easy because Malaysia will then be forced to take measures such as closing down schools and other institutions, while no activities involving mass gathering will be allowed.
"Even your wedding has to be postponed," Dr Ismail said as he warned the public of dire consequences if they did not cooperate and adhered to strict guideliness on prevention measures.
Although Malaysia's preparedness for H1N1 has earned praise from the WHO, the world health agency said Malaysia still needed to prepare for a worst-case scenario.
WHO representative for Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore Dr Han Theru said: "We are worried because not only are we facing influenza A(H1N1) but also the seasonal influenza.
"If these two come together, then the situation can become worse as it will put a lot of strain into the current healthcare and screening system."
WHO's recomendation for a worst-case scenario is understandable as according to experts, there is no widespread immunity to this new strain of H1N1, with the effects far worse than the normal flu.
The latest H1N1 viral strain -- a combination of the previously circulating animal and human strains -- emerged in Mexico in April and since then, 28,820 cases have been confirmed in 83 countries worldwide.
Scientists say the new strain of H1N1 is killing not only those in 'high risk' groups, for example the elderly, the very young and those with compromised immune systems, but also healthy people.
There were three pandemics in the 20th Century: 1918 (Spanish influenza); 1957 (Asian influenza); and 1968 (Hong Kong influenza).
According to the WHO, the 1918 pandemic killed between 40 million and 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the deadliest epidemics in human history.
Malaysia has so far, only confirmed 11 cases but there has been no local transmission. In other words, the disease has not spread locally and the virus has been quickly contained at the carrier level.
With WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan declaring that Influenza A(H1N1) has now entered a pandemic state, it signals all countries to step up their efforts to deal with the disease, but the health agency did not recomend the closing of borders or restricting travel.
-- BERNAMA