KUALA LUMPUR, 19 Aug 2009: People with symptoms of flu have been advised to stay away from public places as the Health Ministry reported 257 new cases of Influenza A(H1N1) over the 24 hours up to 8am today.
Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said people with flu symptoms should avoid going to public places such as shopping malls, and should not use public transportation.
“The Health Ministry has found that many people suffering from Influenza A(H1N1) were not co-operating well enough to contain the spread of the disease,” he said in a statement when disclosing the latest figures on the pandemic.
He said in the statement that no deaths were reported in the 24 hours up to 8am today. As of 8am yesterday, the death toll from the disease was 67.
Of the 257 new cases reported, 36 were under treatment in intensive care units (ICU) of hospitals, and 21 of these cases had been classified as being in the high-risk category, with the patients suffering from diabetes, chronic ailments or asthma, or being pregnant or in post-delivery period, or obese, or being special children or children under one year of age, he said.
Ismail said people with symptoms of even a mild flu could spread the virus to other when they coughed or sneezed.
“As such, those with flu symptoms should remain at home and not visit public places, places of work or schools until they have recovered,” he said.
He advised the people to keep themselves updated on the developments and preventive measures by surfing the H1N1 website, h1n1.moh.gov.my, or contacting the hotlines 03-8881 0200 or 03-8881 0300. — Bernama
