KUALA LUMPUR, 6 Oct 2009: No new death from Influenza A(H1N1) was reported today, but 189 new cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) were admitted to hospital, said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.
He said of the 801 patients with ILI still being treated in hospitals throughout the country, including nine private hospitals, only 56 cases were confirmed for H1N1.
“Among them 14 were being treated in intensive care units (ICUs), and there has been no H1N1 death, with the number of total deaths remaining at 77,” he said in a statement today.
He said 12 of the 14 cases being treated in ICUs had risk factors; among them, seven children under the age of five; three with chronic illnesses; and two of obesity.
Meanwhile, Education Director-General Tan Sri Alimuddin Mohd Dom said all Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) candidates will be screened for their body temperatures as part of preventive measures against H1N1.
He said that the move was similar to the one taken during the Ujian Penilaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination last month.
“Students with body temperatures of 37.8 degrees Celsius and above will sit for the examination in separate rooms,” he told Bernama when contacted today.
He that the ministry had supplied thermometers, sanitisers and surgical masks in all 3,496 examination centres nationwide, to be distributed to the candidates.
Malaysian Examination Board Director-General Datuk Dr Salbiah Ismail said as of this afternoon, the board’s PMR operations centre had not received any reports of candidates with H1N1 symptoms who would have to take the examination in hospitals.
A total of 475,182 candidates will sit for the examination, of whom 442,611 are candidates from schools fully aided by the government. — Bernama
