KUALA LUMPUR, 3 Sept 2009: RapidKL has made hand sanitisers available to commuters, a move aimed at checking the spread of influenza A(H1N1).
Its communications general manager Ebi Azly Abdullah said the hand sanitisers had been placed at 48 Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations.
“About 350,000 commuters using the Kelana Jaya and Ampang rail lines can use the sanitisers for free. They are placed at specific locations in LRT stations until H1N1 can be contained,” he said in a statement here today.
RapidKL had also implemented a Business Continuity Plan to ensure that train and bus operations are not affected by the spread of H1N1.
Ebi said the company also formed an in-house squad to monitor the status of virus infections.
Staff have also been given masks. The company is also making random checks on staff at LRT stations and bus depots.
Ebi added that RapidKL had implemented a special daily cleaning programme for its trains and buses, using special anti-bacterial agents.
Death toll at 73
The death of a 25-year-old Sarawakian woman in Betong on Tuesday, due to severe pneumonia with influenza A(H1N1) infection, saw the death toll from the virus rise to 73 nationwide.
Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the woman who died was initially admitted to the Betong Hospital on Sunday after suffering from fever, sore throat and cough for five days. She was later referred to the Sibu Hospital on Monday for further treatment and antiviral treatment.
Before that she had been treated three times at the Betong Hospital as an outpatient, said Dr Mohd Ismail in a statement here today.
With 266 new admissions, the overall total receiving treatment at 110 hospitals, including 11 private hospitals, for Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI) has increased to 1,211 and of the total, 230 were H1N1 positive cases, he said.
At the same time, 293 have been discharged, he said.
Dr Mohd Ismail said from the 230 positive cases, 41 were receiving treatment in Intensive Care Units.
“Those with symptoms like fever, cough or sore throat should rest at home and avoid going to public places like shopping complexes. They should also wear face masks,” he said. — Bernama
