July 08, 2009 18:09 PM

50 Alam Trainees Affected By Influenza-like Illness

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry on Wednesday reported that an influenza-like outbreak was detected at Akademi Laut Malaysia (ALAM) in Kuala Sungai Baru, Melaka, with some 50 trainees affected.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican in a statement on the Influenza A ((H1N1) situation in the country, said laboratory tests confirmed six of eight samples taken for testing were Influenza A (H1N1) cases.

"All the affected trainees have been placed in isolation at one of the blocks at the academy's campus and are being given anti-viral treatment," he said.

Dr Mohd Ismail said ALAM staff and trainees not affected had been put under medical supervision.

Meanwhile, Dr Mohd Ismail said, as of 8am today, 45 new cases of influenza A(H1N1), also known as swine flu, were reported in the country, 23 imported and 22 local transmissions.

This brings the number of cases of the disease in Malaysia to 513 so far, of which 378 were imported cases and 135 cases local transmissions.

No deaths have been reported so far.

The ministry also explained that of the 513 people affected, 430 (84 per cent) had recovered and been discharged from the hospitals they were warded.

Eighty-three people are still receiving treatement at various hospitals.

Of the 45 new cases, 38 involved Malaysians, Indonesians (4) and one person each from New Zealand, Yemen and India.

Of the 23 imported cases, they had travelled to countries affected by the influenza A(H1N1) pandemic, with 11 having visited Indonesia (11), Australia (3), the Philippines (3), USA (1), China (Macau) (1), China (Hong Kong) (1), Thailand (1), New Zealand (1) and Singapore (1).

The local transmissions included five people attending the Asia-Pacific Pharmaceutical Conference in Penang. Two cases in ALAM involved foreign students studying at the academy.

As of the 83 people still receiving treatment at hospitals, the breakdown is as follows - Kuala Lumpur Hospital (22), Sultanah Aminah Hospital, Johor Baharu (17), Miri Hospital (5), Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, Kuala Terengganu (5), Tuanku Jaafar Hospital, Seremban (4), Penang Hospital (4).

Sungai Buloh Hospital (4), Melaka Hospital (3), Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar (3), Batu Pahat Hospital (3), Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Kuantan (3), Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching (2), Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kota Bharu (2), Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, Ipoh (2), Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu (1), Tawau Hospital (1), Bintulu Hospital (1) and Tumpat Hospital (1).

Contacts undergoing quarantine totalled 1,109 people with six displaying symptoms of the disease.

As to the global situation, the World Health Organisation informed that to date, cumulative cases reported to WHO stood at 96,624 with 433 deaths. It involved an increase of 1,096 cases overnight with 135 countries affected by the pandemic.

The five countries reporting the highest increase in cases are Australia (620), New Zealand (136), Singapore (106), Japan (88) and China (57).

-- BERNAMA

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