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Showing posts from August 9, 2009

H1N1: 3 lagi kematian dilaporkan

Oleh Wan Hazmir Bakar KUALA LUMPUR: Tiga lagi kematian akibat Influenza A (H1N1) disahkan sehingga jam 9 pagi tadi, menjadikan kes kematian terkumpul 59 orang. Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican, berkata semua kematian mempunyai faktor risiko, iaitu obes, sakit injab jantung dan asma. Beliau berkata, kes kematian itu membabitkan seorang lelaki berumur 22 tahun yang obes, seorang lelaki berusia 29 tahun dengan penyakit injab jantung dan seorang wanita berumur 44 tahun yang mempunyai sejarah asma. "Terdapat seramai 120 pesakit H1N1 sedang dirawat di wad dan 29 lagi dirawat di ICU, 16 kes mempunyai faktor risiko iaitu penyakit kronik (7), asma (3), obesiti (2), kecacatan otak (2), hamil (1) dan selepas bersalin (1)," katanya dalam kenyataan media hari ini. Dr Mohd Ismail berkata, Kementerian Kesihatan mendapati orang ramai yang mempunyai simptom influenza yang ringan masih mengunjungi tempat awam seperti pusat membeli-be

Clinics not keen on stocking up Tamiflu

By SHAUN HO and CHEW WAN YING PETALING JAYA: Private clinics are hesitant to stock up on the A (H1N1) anti-viral drug, Tamiflu, due to its high cost and inconsistent guidelines from the Health Ministry. According to a survey carried out by The Star among 12 private clinics here, eight did not have the supply and did not intend to place orders with suppliers. “The Government is inconsistent in giving guidelines regarding the prescription of drugs,” said a doctor in Jalan Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur. Yesterday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai directed all public and private hospitals to administer immediate treatment to patients with flu-like symptoms and with high fever that persisted for more than 48 hours. Prescription should be made based on the doctor’s discretion and on a case-by-case basis, said the doctor who did not want to be named. “If we indeed follow the latest guidelines, the supply will run out soon. It will be harder for us to restock, as there i

A(H1N1): Three new deaths bringing total to 59

By NG CHENG YEE PETALING JAYA: Three more deaths from Influenza A (H1N1) have been reported, bringing the total to 59 and all of them were among the high-risk group, said Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican. The first was a 22-year-old man, who was obese, and the second one was a 29-year-old man, who suffered from valvular heart disease. The third fatality was a 44-year-old woman with a history of asthma, who died of pneumonia. The 22-year-old man died of viral pneumonia while the cause of death for the 29-year-old man was severe bronchopneumonia. Dr Ismail said members of the public with mild influenza symptoms were still visiting shopping complexes, traveling, working, going to school or taking public transports. “The ministry found that many of them did not wear masks while those who do wear masks are the healthy ones,” he said. He urged those with influenza symptoms to stay home until they recovered. Dr Ismail said antiviral treatm

H1N1: Usah bawa terlalu ramai penyokong

PULAU PINANG 14 Ogos - Polis meminta parti-parti yang bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Kecil Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Permatang Pasir tidak membawa kumpulan penyokong yang terlalu ramai berikutan penularan wabak selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1) ketika ini. Ketua Polis Pulau Pinang, Datuk Ayub Yaakob berkata, peringatan ini perlu dilakukan pihaknya kerana pada masa ini bilangan angka kematian akibat wabak itu kian meningkat. Menurutnya, mereka yang terlibat dalam kempen pilihan raya perlu memberi keutamaan terhadap aspek kesihatan, terutamanya golongan berisiko tinggi dijangkiti wabak itu seperti kanak-kanak, warga emas dan mereka yang berpenyakit. "Polis menjangkakan jumlah kedatangan penyokong dari luar agak besar. Ini secara tidak langsung mendedahkan orang ramai kepada penyakit ini," katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini. Menurut Ayub, polis juga akan mendapatkan kerjasama daripada Jabatan Kesihatan bagi memastikan persiapan pilihan raya kali ini berjalan lan

1,100 pelajar SMK Sungai Tong solat hajat elak H1N1

pelajar dan guru SMK Sungai Tong, Setiu mendirikan solat hajat minta dihindari wabak selesema babi di pekarangan sekolah itu semalam. SETIU 14 Ogos - Seramai 1,100 pelajar termasuk guru Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sungai Tong di sini mengadakan solat hajat memohon Tuhan agar diselamatkan daripada menjadi mangsa selesema babi atau Influenza A (H1N1). Difahamkan, 10 pelajar dan dua guru sekolah tersebut disyaki dijangkiti virus itu sejak minggu lalu. Solat hajat yang diadakan secara berjamaah semalam itu dipercayai yang pertama dilakukan oleh pihak sekolah di negeri ini setakat ini. Pengetua SMK Sungai Tong, Mustapa Abd. Razak berkata, usaha-usaha yang dilakukan oleh pihak sekolah dengan menunaikan solat hajat pada kira-kira pukul 8.10 pagi sebagai 'menolak bala' di samping langkah pencegahan dari menular di kalangan pelajar lain. Menurutnya, solat hajat itu diadakan di pekarangan sekolah berkenaan yang disertai semua pelajar lelaki dan perempuan sekolah tersebut. &

Yayasan Perak edar 10,000 penutup mulut

IPOH 14 Ogos - Yayasan Perak mengedarkan 10,000 penutup mulut dan hidung secara percuma kepada penduduk di Kampung Manjoi, dekat sini bagi mencegah penularan wabak selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1). Pengerusinya, Datuk Mohamad Nazri Ismail berkata, 10,000 lagi penutup mulut dan hidung akan diedarkan minggu depan untuk tujuan yang sama. "Ini hanya merupakan peringkat awal dan kami merancang untuk mengadakan lebih banyak program seumpama ini untuk membantu orang ramai. "Kita juga akan meninjau keadaan semasa wabak H1N1 dan bersedia menghulurkan bantuan di kawasan lain di Perak bagi menjamin keselamatan dan kesihatan rakyat," katanya. Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas menghadiri kempen kesedaran wabak H1N1 di Kampung Manjoi yang turut dihadiri Ketua Unit kawalan Penyakit Berjangkit JKNP, Dr. Asiah Ayob. Kempen kesedaran dengan kerjasama Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Perak (JKNP) itu disertai kira-kira 500 penduduk Kampung Manjoi dan kawasan sekitar. Moha

Istana Abdul Aziz dikuarantin sehingga Ahad

KUANTAN 14 Ogos - Istana Abdul Aziz di sini dikuarantin sehingga Ahad ini berikutan Tengku Puan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah bersama lima anakanda baginda dijangkiti selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1). Berikutan itu, tiada kaum kerabat termasuk kakitangan dibenarkan keluar dari kawasan istana sejak Tengku Puan Pahang dimasukkan ke Wad Diraja Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) di sini selepas dijangkiti penyakit itu sejak Sabtu lalu. Ketika mengesahkan perkara itu, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah bertitah, selain kaum kerabat dan kakitangan dilarang keluar dari istana, pihak luar termasuk pekerja yang menjalankan kerja-kerja di pekarangan istana, juga tidak dibenarkan masuk. ''Tiada siapa dari dalam istana dibenarkan keluar, pekerja dari luar pun tidak dibenarkan masuk sehingga 16 Ogos ini,'' titah baginda menerusi sistem khidmat pesanan ringkas (SMS) kepada Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini. Jumaat lalu, lima anakanda baginda, Tengku Hassanal Ib

H1N1 membimbangkan - TPM

Oleh ZABRY MOHAMAD dan THOMAS CHONG pengarang@utusan.com.my Sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga bagi mengelak dijangkiti penyakit selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1) yang semakin serius, orang ramai yang semakin sedar tentang keperluan menggunakan penutup hidung dan mulut berebut-rebut membeli alat pelindungan tersebut. Namun kehabisan stok alat itu menyebabkan banyak pembeli berasa hampa dan kecewa. Difahamkan bekalan stok alat perlindungan di beberapa premis farmasi di ibu negara Kuala Lumpur terputus sejak beberapa hari lalu ekoran masalah untuk memperoleh bekalan itu daripada pembekal. PUTRAJAYA 14 Ogos - Tahap wabak selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1) di negara ini yang telah meragut 56 nyawa kini di peringkat membimbangkan, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. Sehubungan itu, katanya, beliau akan berbincang dengan Kementerian Kesihatan untuk melihat sejauh mana keberkesanannya jika lokasi-lokasi panas H1N1 didedahkan kepada umum seperti gesaan beberapa pers

Minda Pengarang: Kerajaan perlu ambil langkah lebih drastik tangani selesema babi

MENINGKATAN berterusan angka korban akibat selesema babi atau Influenza A (H1N1) di negara ini mencetuskan keresahan rakyat. Semalam, tujuh lagi kematian dicatatkan menjadikan jumlahnya kini 51 orang. Lebih membimbangkan, jika bulan lalu angka korban H1N1 hanya satu atau dua sehari, puratanya kini meningkat sehingga lima atau lebih setiap hari. Malaysia mencatat kes pertama H1N1 pada 15 Mei lalu, manakala kematian pertama pada 23 Julai. Melihat jumlah pesakit itu yang kini melebihi 2,000 orang dan angka korban berjumlah 51, kegelisahan orang ramai mengenai wabak itu memang ada asasnya. Kempen membendung penularan wabak itu kelihatan seperti 'sekadar melepas batok di tangga' sedangkan rakyat berpendapat langkah drastik sepatutnya sudah lama dilaksanakan. Rata-rata kini mahu kerajaan segera mengambil tindakan berani untuk berdepan ancaman H1N1 sebelum lebih banyak jiwa menjadi korban dan keadaan bertambah rumit. Sekali pun jika tindakan itu mungkin membawa sedikit kesulitan kepad

Apa tahap bahaya

Oleh Sariha Mohd Ali sariha@bharian.com.my Tengku Mahkota Pahang mahu kerajaan kategori ancaman H1N1 KUALA LUMPUR: Tengku Mahkota Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (gambar) , mahu kerajaan mengkategorikan tahap ancaman Influenza A (H1N1) bagi meningkatkan kesedaran rakyat mengenai bahaya wabak itu yang setakat ini sudah pun mengorbankan 51 orang. Tengku Abdullah yang baru pulang dari London, dua hari lalu, menegaskan baginda terkejut kerana kes kematian akibat H1N1 semakin meningkat, tetapi tiada langkah lebih ketat diambil bagi mengekangnya, manakala kebanyakan rakyat seolah-olah menganggap ancaman wabak itu sebagai perkara biasa. "Kerajaan perlu memaklumkan berapakah jumlah kematian akibat H1N1 yang boleh dikategorikan negara berada di tahap bahaya. Saya ingin tahu kita sekarang berada di tahap mana? "Ini umpama bencana banjir yang biasanya kita kategorikan tahap bahaya sama ada pada tahap satu

Palace Workers Quarantined Due To H1n1

KUANTAN, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- All Istana Abdul Aziz workers here have been quarantined until Sunday in the wake of the Influenza A(H1N1) infection involving the Tengku Puan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, and her five children. Members of the royal court as well as palace officials and staff members were also prohibited from leaving or entering the palace since Saturday, the day the Tengku Puan Pahang was admitted to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, here. This was confirmed by Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah when contacted at the hospital's royal ward. "No one is allowed to leave or enter the palace until Aug 16," she said via a text message. It was not immediately known how many were involved in the quarantine. Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah also said that she and her five children, aged between seven and 14 years old, who were were admitted to the hospital on Friday, were recovering well. Meanwhile in KUALA TERENGGANU, Higher Education Minister Datuk

Premature Baby Among 5 Latest Fatal Cases From Influenza A(H1N1)

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- A premature baby was among five who died from Influenza A(H1N1) between Aug 8 and 12, bringing the total number of deaths from the disease to 56. Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said in a statement Friday that one died on Aug 8, two on Aug 11 and other two on Aug 12. One of them was obese, one had diabetes, another had diabetes and tuberculosis, and the other two were babies. He said the premature baby was born at 27 weeks and warded on Aug 3 for fever, cough, a cold and breathing difficulty. The baby was given anti-viral and other treatment but died on Aug 12. The other baby, two months old, was admitted on Aug 7 as it was weak and pale although it was not having fever, cough or breathing difficulty. However, the baby was placed in the intensive-care unit (ICU) after its condition became critical and died on Aug 8. Another two cases involved a 49-year-old obese woman who had diabetes and tuberculosis and a 57-year-old man wh

Mothers Can Help Prevent H1N1 In Family, Says Shahrizat

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 (Bernama) -- Women, especially mothers, should play an important role in preventing the spread of influenza A (H1N1)among their family members, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said today. She said what they could do, among other things, were to ensure cleanliness of their housing compound and to get their family members to practice proper hygiene at home and in public places. "Besides that, if possible, they should not bring children to crowded places," she told reporters after launching a programme between the ministry and non-governmental organisations, "1Nada 1Suara" (1Tone 1Voice) here. She also advised mothers to send their children immediately for medical treatment should they come down with symptoms of influenza to prevent the spread of the Influenza A (H1N1). Earlier, she handed over allocation worth RM5 million to 89 NGOs to cover part of their maintenance cost in the running of their r

H1N1: Bayi lahir tidak cukup bulan antara 5 korban terbaru

KUALA LUMPUR 14 Ogos — Seorang bayi yang dilahirkan tidak cukup umur adalah antara lima kematian terkini akibat Influenza A(H1N1), menjadikan jumlah kematian di negara ini sebanyak 56 kematian. Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican dalam kenyataan hari ini berkata empat daripada kes kematian mempunyai faktor risiko iaitu obes, diabetes dan TB paru-paru (1 kes), diabetes (1 kes) dan bayi (2 kes). Katanya, kematian tersebut berlaku pada 8 Ogos (1 kes), 11 Ogos (2 kes) dan 12 Ogos (2 kes). Menurut beliau, kematian pada 12 Ogos melibatkan bayi tidak cukup bulan berusia 27 minggu yang dimasukkan ke hospital pada 3 Ogos kerana demam, batuk, selesema dan susah bernafas selama tiga hari. Keadaan bayi berkenaan semakin teruk dan telah diventilasi sebelum ujian swab dan rawatan antiviral diberikan. Seorang lagi bayi yang meninggal dunia berumur dua bulan yang dimasukkan ke hospital pada 7 Ogos setelah berada dalam keadaan tidak memberikan tindak balas serta pucat

Bad news for diabetic, obese

KUALA LUMPUR: Watch that waistline. If waist measurements exceed 90cm for men and 80cm for women, you may be on the road to obesity -- and diabetes. Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (Maso) president Professor Dr Ismail Mohd Noor said being extremely overweight and diabetic was bad news for Malaysians. "The problem can be nipped in the bud by going for pre-diabetic screening," he said, adding that the association was carrying out free screening in selected clinics until November to combat obesity. He said 60 per cent of obese people were diabetics, a percentage that revealed a definite link between the two. In the third National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2006, the prevalence of abnormal obesity among Malaysian adults was higher than in most other Asian countries with the exception of those in South Asia. Data also showed that diabetes among Malaysians almost doubled from 8.3 per cent in 1996 to 14.9 per cent a decade later. "There ar

The obese may be at high risk with the flu

By Lydia Gomez KUALA LUMPUR: As the death toll from influenza A H1N1 rose to 51 yesterday, obesity has come into play as a possible factor leading to death from the illness. The Health Ministry is concerned that the obese may be in the high-risk category after a pregnant 18-year-old housewife who died from the flu had no underlying condition except obesity. Two of the 29 people in intensive care are also obese. A 2006 national survey showed that 43 per cent of Malaysians were either overweight or obese -- excess body weight in the form of fat -- with the number growing rapidly because of the increasingly sedentary lifestyle. "The obese may find themselves in the high-risk group for all viruses, including H1N1. Obesity is also the road to diseases like diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses which reduces immunity," Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said when opening the Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity Scientific Confere

Berdoa, ikhtiar tangani wabak selesema babi

Oleh MOHD. SHAUKI ABD. MAJID DALAM hidup, suka atau tidak, kita akan berdepan dengan kesedihan, kegagalan, kegembiraan dan kejayaan. Memang banyak kesedihan atau kesakitan yang dapat dicegah. Tetapi banyak juga yang tidak dapat dicegah sehingga membawa kepada kematian walau segala usaha dan ikhtiar telah dilakukan. Pelbagai peristiwa suka duka itu juga menyaksikan kepentingan manfaat doa atau berdoa. Walaupun bukan semua yang kita pohon akan tercapai tetapi kita tidak boleh meninggalkan doa. Yang penting kita perlu optimis. Sesungguhnya kita tidak boleh berputus asa daripada menanti rahmat-Nya. Rasulullah SAW bersabda: Berdoalah kepada Allah disertai dengan keyakinan penuh bahawa Dia akan memperkenankannya. Untuk mencapai sesuatu hajat dan hasrat, tumpuan utama ialah pergantungan kepada Allah. Oleh itu dalam menghadapi musibah atau bala bencana, tidak ada yang lain melainkan kita perlu mengunakan senjata-senjata orang mukmin yang ada iaitu doa, senjata fakir (contohnya sembahyang

Pesakit kanser diminta berwaspada

Oleh Rohani Ibrahim pengarang@utusan.com.my Zuraidah Atan (kanan) bersama Penny Williams dan pesakit-pesakit kanser memegang cawan teh pada majlis Jamuan Teh Malaysia di Persatuan Kebangsaan Kanser Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, semalam. KUALA LUMPUR 13 Ogos - Pesakit dan bekas pesakit kanser di seluruh negara perlu sentiasa berwaspada terhadap jangkitan wabak selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1) kerana tahap imuniti mereka rendah. Penasihat Kehormat Persatuan Kebangsaan Kanser Malaysia (NCSM), Datuk Zuraidah Atan berkata, para pesakit dan bekas pesakit kanser perlu mengurangkan aktiviti di luar rumah selain menjaga kebersihan diri mengikut saranan Kementerian Kesihatan. ''Tidak kiralah kanser apa pun yang dihidapi oleh seseorang itu, ia menyebabkan imuniti pesakit berkenaan menjadi rendah. ''Oleh itu, mereka perlu menjaga kebersihan diri dan mengamalkan langkah berjaga-jaga bagi mengelakkan diri daripada dijangkiti H1N1,'' katanya. Zuraidah berkata demikian

Guru dijangkiti, SMK Seri Pagi ditutup

SEREMBAN 13 Ogos – Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Seri Pagi di Senawang diarah tutup oleh Jabatan Kesihatan negeri bermula hari ini berikutan penularan wabak selsema babi atau influenza A (H1N1). Pengarahnya, Dr. Zainal Ariffin Omar berkata, penutupan sekolah berkenaan itu dibuat selepas salah seorang guru itu dijangkiti wabak berkenaan yang kemudiannya menerima rawatan di salah sebuah hospotal swasta di sini. ‘‘Kita difahamkan guru berkenaan kini dirawat di hospital swasta bagaimanapun setakat ini kita tidak menerima sebarang laporan tahap kesihatan mengenainya,’’ katanya ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini. Zainal Ariffin menambah, bagi sekolah berkenaan, pihaknya juga akan menjalankan langkah perlu bagi membasmi penularan wabak yang kini telah meragut 51 nyawa. - Utusan.

Kerajaan tidak terburu-buru tutup sekolah

MELAKA 13 Ogos - Kerajaan tidak akan terburu-buru menutup kira-kira 10,000 sekolah di seluruh negara walaupun terdapat kebimbangan ibu bapa terhadap wabak selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1). Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin berkata, tindakan menutup semua sekolah hanya akan menjejaskan pembelajaran kira-kira 500,000 pelajar di seluruh negara. Menurutnya, Kementerian Pelajaran mempunyai satu garis panduan mengenai penutupan sesebuah sekolah dan ia bergantung kepada keputusan guru besar atau pengetua mengikut nasihat Jabatan Kesihatan negeri. "Jika ada pelajar yang dijangkiti wabak itu, dia akan diasingkan dan diberikan rawatan manakala pembelajaran di sekolah tersebut akan berjalan seperti biasa. "Tetapi jika ada kebimbangan wabak itu sudah merebak, guru besar atau pengetua perlu mendapat nasihat daripada Jabatan Kesihatan negeri sama ada menutup atau tidak sekolah terbabit," katanya. Beliau bercakap kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan sambutan H

Dedah lokasi panas H1N1

Oleh LIAU PEI WEN dan ANDIKA WAHAB pengarang@utusan.com.my KUALA LUMPUR 13 Ogos – Kementerian Kesihatan diminta mendedahkan lokasi-lokasi panas kes selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1) terutama kawasan yang membabitkan kematian atau mempunyai kadar jangkitan tinggi supaya orang ramai lebih berwaspada. Melalui pendedahan itu, orang ramai boleh mengelakkan kawasan tersebut sama seperti larangan yang dikenakan oleh kerajaan terhadap lawatan ke negara-negara yang dilanda wabak itu sebelum ini. Setiausaha Agung Gabungan Persatuan Pengguna Malaysia (FOMCA), Muhammad Shaani Abdullah berkata, kerajaan perlu bersikap lebih terbuka dengan mendedahkan lokasi-lokasi yang mencatatkan jumlah kes jangkitan dan kematian tinggi akibat wabak H1N1. “Maklumat mengenai lokasi-lokasi tersebut akan memberi mesej dan panduan kepada orang ramai agar sentiasa berwaspada selain meningkatkan tahap berjaga-jaga apabila berada di kawasan tersebut. “Sebagai contoh, jika seseorang mahu mengunjungi mana-mana kaw

More People Wearing Masks In Public Places

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- More people can be seen wearing nose and mouth masks in public places here as the government continues its campaign against Influenza A (H1N1) which has already claimed 51 lives. A Bernama survey found that restaurant and supermarket employees had began wearing masks as protection against the virus. Restoran Bismillah manager Farid Mohamad said he wore a mask to cover his mouth when dealing with the public. "We don't know whether the customers have fever or not. I encourage the workers to wear masks when dealing with customers. Restaurant worker Abdul Kudus Muhamad said he wore a mask after learning of the danger posed by H1N1 via television although he had to make roti canai. "I felt uncomfortable at first but are used to it by now. Most importantly, I feel safe," he said. Marketing officer Erma Hassan, 30, said she did not wear a mask as many people were still not wearing them. However, she took precautionary measures by not taki

More Dengue Cases And One Death For Aug 2-6

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- A total of 585 dengue cases with one death were reported from Aug 2 to 8, an increase of 17 cases, or three per cent, from the previous week. The death involved a 32-year-old housewife who was a diabetic and lived in Taman Peringgit Jaya, Melaka Tengah, where two outbreaks with 13 cases had occurred this year, Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said on Thursday. He said the woman started having fever and joint aches on July 21 but only sought treatment at a private clinic five days later. She was diagnosed as having respiratory tract ailment and warded at the Melaka Hospital on July 28 after her mother found her unconscious, he said in a statement here today. Dr Mohd Ismail said the woman was suspected of having dengue haemorrhagic fever and meningoencephalitis, or infection of the meninges, and was confirmed as suffering from dengue the same day. She died on July 29 due to complications from shock syndrome. Dr Mohd Ismail sa

Tamiflu available at pharmacies

By Annie Freeda Cruez KUALA LUMPUR: The anti-viral drug, Tamiflu, is now sold at all 1,800 pharmacies nationwide. Some 6,000 pharmacists have been strictly told to dispense the drug to only those with a doctor's prescription. It comes in capsule form of 30mg, 45mg or 75mg. Three companies -- Roche (M) Sdn Bhd, Ranbaxy (M) Sdn Bhd and CCM Duopharma Biotech Berhad -- are involved in the supply of Tamiflu. Tamiflu was invented by US biotech company Gilead Sciences Inc. CCM Duopharma Biotech chief executive officer Leonard Ariff Abd Shatar said the government had been stockpiling the anti-viral drug for the past three years and there was sufficient supply to meet demand. He said the Health Ministry was working closely with pharmaceutical companies to ensure sufficient supply. "Our company will come out with a generic version of Tamiflu." The first batch of 30,000 boxes of the 75mg generic drug would be out before the end of the month, h

H1N1 WATCH: 30 per cent of Malaysians at risk

WHO warns of more deaths as pandemic will not stop soon Thursday, August 13th, 2009 07:07:00 ABOUT 20 to 30 per cent of the Malaysian population is expected to be infected with the swine flu virus, a WHO official has warned. The number of confirmed cases and deaths in Malaysia were rising and it was a cause of concern, World Health Organisation (WHO) official Dr Hans Tieru said. Tieru, the WHO in-charge of Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore, warned of severe cases and rise in deaths due to the A(H1N1) virus. "Malaysia, just like other countries around the world and region, must be prepared to handle the burden. "This pandemic is still evolving and the new virus is expected to be around infecting people for at least a year or more. We are definitely going to see many people around the world become victims of this new virus. The reality is the pandemic will not stop

Murid diberi penutup mulut

Oleh AHMAD ISMAIL utusanjohor@utusan.com.my ZAHARI Sarip (belakang tiga dari kiri) bersama sebahagian murid selepas majlis simbolik penyampaian topeng mulut di SK Kuala Paya, Buloh Kasap, Johor, kelmarin. - UTUSAN/AHMAD Ismail SEGAMAT 12 Ogos - Prihatin terhadap penularan influenza A (H1N1) atau selesema babi yang semakin serius, UMNO Bahagian Segamat mengagihkan 1,500 penutup mulut dan hidung secara percuma kepada murid sekolah di sekitar kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Buloh Kasap di sini. Timbalan Ketua UMNO bahagian berkenaan, Zahari Sarip berkata, inisiatif pihaknya itu merupakan sebahagian daripada usaha untuk meningkatkan kesedaran masyarakat mengenai bahaya wabak selesema babi dan langkah-langkah pencegahannya. "Penggunaan penutup mulut ini, walaupun tidak dapat mencegah sepenuhnya, ia dapat mengurangkan wabak tersebut daripada tersebar dengan cepat. "Kebersihan juga patut diamalkan setiap masa terutamanya kerap mencuci tangan adalah antara langkah mudah yan

Pakai penutup mulut, hidung

TELUK INTAN 12 Ogos - Semua pelajar sekolah di daerah ini dinasihatkan supaya memakai penutup mulut dan hidung bagi menggelakkan jangkitan selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1). Pegawai Pelajaran Daerah Hilir Perak, Zulkarnaini Hussein berkata, kesemua 113 sekolah rendah dan 24 sekolah menengah di sini juga diarah mematuhi peraturan yang dikeluarkan Jabatan Kesihatan negeri dalam usaha menangani penularan wabak H1N1. Dalam masa sama, katanya, ibu bapa wajar memastikan kebersihan diri anak-anak dan segera mendapatkan rawatan sekiranya ahli keluarga mengalami simptom-simptom H1N1. ''Selain memakai penutup mulut, semua murid dan pelajar juga dinasihatkan membasuh tangan dan memastikan kebersihan diri masing-masing," katanya ketika ditemui di sini hari ini. Beliau berkata, setakat ini hanya Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Abdul Rahman ditutup sejak 7 Ogos lalu berikutan wabak H1N1. Menurut Zulkarnaini, ibu bapa tidak perlu bimbang kerana Jabatan Kesihatan sentiasa memantau da

Avillion PD adakan kempen derma darah

PORT DICKSON 12 Ogos - Hotel peranginan Avillion Port Dickson di sini dengan kerjasama Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar (HTJ) Seremban mengadakan Kempen Derma Darah A Life In Dire Need, a Drop of Blood In Deed hari ini. Pengurus Hubungan Awam Avillion Hotel Group, Irene Wong berkata, kempen berkenaan diadakan untuk membantu menampung kekurangan bekalan darah di bank darah negeri ini. ''Selain itu, ia juga merupakan salah satu program kemasyarakatan yang dirangka oleh hotel ini untuk bersama-sama membantu masyarakat menghadapi kesusahan," katanya di sini hari ini. Dalam program tersebut itu, sambutan orang ramai amat membanggakan apabila seramai 150 orang tampil untuk menderma darah. ''Penderma darah itu terdiri daripada kakitangan syarikat korporat, masyarakat umum serta anggota Angkatan Tentera Diraja Malaysia (ATM) di sekitar Port Dickson," katanya. Katanya, apa yang lebih menarik, penderma darah yang melakukan tanggungjawab sosial dalam kempen ini turut d

40,000 jururawat am 'mati akal, kecewa'

KUALA LUMPUR 12 Ogos - Kira-kira 40,000 jururawat am di hospital dan klinik kerajaan kini dalam keadaan 'mati akal dan kecewa' berikutan sungutan mereka yang telah lama berhubung usaha meningkatkan skim perkhidmatan mereka tidak diberi perhatian. ''Mereka kini menuntut penyelesaian segera sebelum kerajaan 'kehilangan' mereka kepada sektor swasta,'' kata Setiausaha Agung CUEPACS, Ahmad Shah Mohd. Zin hari ini. Beliau memberitahu Bernama bahawa CUEPACS telah menubuhkan sebuah pasukan petugas di peringkat tinggi untuk membuat satu memorandum komprehensif berhubung sungutan jururawat berkenaan. Katanya, kongres itu memberi keutamaan kepada jururawat kerana 'mereka dianggap sebagai penjawat perkhidmatan kritikal' dan merupakan bahagian penting bagi sistem perkhidmatan jagaan kesihatan awam di negara ini. ''Tanpa jururawat, kualiti sistem perkhidmatan kesihatan awam kita terjejas teruk kerana mereka menyediakan jagaan rawatan yang penting

Garis panduan baru mungkin tidak relevan dilaksana IPT

KUALA LUMPUR 12 Ogos - Garis panduan baru berkaitan arahan penutupan sekolah ekoran penularan wabak selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1) yang akan dikeluarkan nanti mungkin tidak relevan untuk dilaksanakan di institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT). Menteri Pengajian Tinggi, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin berkata, ini kerana situasi pengajaran dan pembelajaran di sekolah berbeza dengan IPT. Menurutnya, buat masa ini Kementerian Kesihatan belum berunding dengan Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi berhubung garis panduan berkaitan arahan penutupan IPT. "Bagaimanapun, kami akan terus menjalinkan kerjasama erat dengan Kementerian Kesihatan dalam usaha mencegah penularan wabak H1N1 dalam negara," ujarnya. Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas merasmikan Persidangan Maklumat Antarabangsa Kesembilan (ICI9) anjuran Universiti Terbuka Malaysia (OUM) di sini hari ini. Hadir sama Presiden yang juga Naib Canselor OUM, Tan Sri Anuwar Ali dan Naib Presiden Kanan OUM, Prof. Dr. Manso

Kuasa pengetua tutup sekolah - Tiong Lai

PUTRAJAYA 12 Ogos - Semua sekolah hanya akan ditutup akibat selesema babi atau influenza A (H1N1) berdasarkan keputusan yang dibuat oleh pengetua mengikut nasihat Kementerian Kesihatan dan persetujuan Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri (JPN). Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai berkata, keputusan pengetua bergantung kepada situasi dalam sekolah terbabit sekiranya kehadiran murid atau guru terlalu sedikit akibat pandemik tersebut. ''Pandemik H1N1 ini telah memasuki fasa mitigasi, oleh itu tindakan penutupan sekolah dan institusi hanya diambil sebagai pilihan terakhir. ''Tindakan penutupan itu hanya boleh dilakukan oleh pihak sekolah atau institusi apabila kehadiran pelajar sangat rendah dan pembelajaran tidak dapat dibuat dengan baik," katanya pada sidang akhbar di sini hari ini. Tiong Lai berkata, garis panduan penutupan sekolah itu berdasarkan keputusan Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Teknikal Pandemik Influenza kali ke-11 hari ini. ''Mesyuarat itu juga mengelu

Tengku Puan Pahang, lima anakanda syukur kesihatan semakin baik

KUANTAN 12 Ogos - Tengku Puan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah dan lima anakanda baginda yang dijangkiti selesema babi atau virus influenza A (H1N1), melahirkan rasa syukur hari ini apabila kesihatan mereka menunjukkan perkembangan positif selepas empat hari dirawat di Hospital Tengku Ampuan Azfan (HTAA) di sini. Baginda bertitah, keadaan demam kelima-lima anakandanya beransur pulih, tetapi mereka masih dalam keadaan lemah dan perlu berehat dengan sentiasa diawasi oleh doktor. "Kami sentiasa diawasi oleh doktor, tetapi apa yang lebih saya bimbangkan ialah keadaan orang ramai dan dua doktor yang merawat saya dan anak-anak," titah baginda ketika dihubungi di sini hari ini. Jumaat lalu, lima anakanda baginda, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, 14, Tengku Muhammad Iskandar Riayatuddin Shah, 12, pasangan kembar Tengku Ahmad Ismail Muadzam Shah dan Tengku Puteri Afzan Aminah Hafidzatullah, 9, serta Tengku Puteri Jihan Khalsom Athiyatullah, 7, dimasukkan ke Wad Di

H1N1: 7 lagi kematian, keseluruhan 51

KUALA LUMPUR: Tujuh lagi kematian dilaporkan akibat H1N1 hari ini, menjadikan jumlah kes meningkat kepada 51 orang. Menteri Kesihatan, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, berkata tujuh kematian itu membabitkan pesakit berumur antara empat bulan dan 92 tahun. - Berita Harian.

Police Urge Public To Avoid Political Gatherings

PENANG, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- The police have urged the public to avoid political gatherings ahead of the campaign for the Permatang Pasir by-election, in lieu of the outbreak of Influenza A/H1N1. Penang police chief Datuk Ayub Yaakob said the police would not stop any political party from applying for the permit for the 'ceramahs' (political rallies) but would advised them against holding any gathering unless there was a necessity. "Gatherings will expose us to additional risk because the disease will spread easily. It is in line with the call by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to avoid public gatherings, if necessary," he told Bernama when contacted here today. The Election Commission (EC) has fixed Aug 17 as nomination day. Polling is on Aug 25. Ayub said permits for the 'ceramahs' could be applied at the Seberang Jaya and Kubang Semang police stations or the Seberang Prai Tengah (SPT) police headquarters in Bandar Perda. "We are not stoppi

UTM Graduands Told To Declare Health During Convocation

JOHOR BAHARU, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) graduands attending the university's 43rd convocation this weekend have been told to fill up a health declaration from stating that they are free of Influenza A(H1N1). UTM's student health centre director Dr Ismail Ahmad said Wednesday, the move was one of the measures taken by the university to prevent the pandemic. Graduands who were feverish, coughing or sneezing would be required to undergo A(H1N1) screening and would be given medications and face masks, he said in a statement. The five-day convocation from Saturday would involve 5,693 graduands. -- BERNAMA

Book Fest Organiser Take Precautionary Measures To Check H1N1

KUALA LUMPUR, AUG 12 (Bernama) -- With an estimated 500,000 visitors expected, the organiser of BookFest@Malaysia 2009, to held here for 10 days beginning Aug 22, will not be taking any chances with the influenza A(H1N1) virus going around and screen all visitors to the fair. Executive director of Popular Book Co (M) Sdn, Bhd, Lim Lee Ngoh, said all entrances to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), the venue of the book fair, have screening machines. She said screening machines will be at the main lobby, east wing entrance, west wing entrance and centre court, while sanitizing products and hand towels will be made available in all toilets during the fest. "Members of the public and visitors would be requested, on a voluntary basis, to undergo temperature screening, sanitize their hands as they enter the venue and wear the free masks that would be handed out before entering the exhibition hall," she said at the launch of the fair by Deputy Minister of Higher Education, D

Measures To Curb H1N1 Spread Intensified

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Measures to contain the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) are being intensified nationwide, especially to enhance public awareness on the need for them to avoid being exposed to the risks of getting the virus. In Seremban, for example, the authorities have conducted screening on civil servants working at Wisma Negeri, as well as members of the public entering the premises. Today, three visitors were not allowed to enter the building when their body temperature was found to be above 38 degrees Celsius. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan told reporters after the state executive council meeting that the screening at the entrance to Wisma Negeri was conducted to avoid the spread of the pandemic to government offices. "Furthermore, we use a centralised air-conditioning system. Germs can spread through the air-conditioning system," he added. He said the state government had also reduced the number of official functions as part of the measures to co

H1N1: Govt Not Closing All Schools Yet

IPOH, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong Wednesday reiterated that the government would not close all schools despite the spread of the Influenza A(H1N1). He said the ministry would get the advice of the Health Ministry before taking any action. Dr Wee reiterated the government's stand on the matter amid calls from concerned parents for the closure of schools following the rise in the number of A(H1N1) cases. "We cannot simply close all schools. We need to refer to the Health Department to assess the health of affected students," he told reporters after a visit to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (C) Yuk Choy here. He said the ministry and the Health Ministry would work together to monitor the state of health among students and take all the preventive measures. Among measures were quarantining students suspected to have contracted the illness or not allowing them to return to school until they had sought hospital treatment, he said. The Health