PUTRAJAYA, 24 June 2009: Twelve new Influenza A(H1N1) confirmed cases have been reported over the past 24 hours, Director-General of Health Tani Sr Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said today.
Ismail said of the total, 10 were imported cases, while two were locally transmitted.
Three of the cases involved two from Yemen and one from Indonesia, while the rest were Malaysians who had visited Singapore, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Philippines, Australia and the United States, he said.
“This has increased the number of confirmed cases in the country to 80, comprising 69 imported cases and 11 locally transmitted cases.
“The number of schools that had been closed due to the outbreak remains four, while three schools have been directed to close one of their classrooms respectively,” he told reporters after chairing a national technical committee meeting on Influenza A(H1N1) here today.
He added that so far, 1,619 people had been tested for suspected Influenza A(H1N1).
“All the confirmed cases have been admitted in hospitals and are in stable condition. As of 8am today, 44 Influenza A(H1N1) cases are being treated in hospitals,” said Ismail.
As of yesterday, 628 were placed under “home quarantine”, including 164 contact cases.
In NUSAJAYA, JOHOR, a 19-year-old female student was confirmed the first A(H1N1) victim after returning from Melbourne, Australia, two days ago.
State Women, Family, Community and Health Committee chairperson Dr Robia Kosai said today the student landed at Changi Airport, Singapore, on board flight SQ0238 and had fever and flu upon reaching her home in Johor Baru.
“The student was home on vacation after six months in Melbourne. She is now being monitored at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital,” she told reporters here.
Robia said the student’s family, including the father, mother,16-year-old brother and 17-year-old sister were under home quarantine for a week. The taxi driver who sent the student home was also under home quarantine.
Robia said Health Department staff would also be sent to the schools of the girl’s siblings — Sekolah Menengah Datuk Jaafar and Sekolah Menengah Infant Jesus Convent — as the two had attended school yesterday.
“We will check the two schools to prevent any spread of the virus,” she said.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 232 have died of Influenza A(H1N1) from the 53,110 confirmed cases in 99 countries, while 423 new cases were reported yesterday.
Among the countries that registered an increase in the number of cases were Australia (124), China (112), New Zealand (61), Japan (43) and Nicaragua (43). — Bernama
