KUALA LUMPUR: There has been no Influenza A (H5N1) infection detected from the monitoring of chickens, birds and other animals in Malaysia since 2007.
Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said besides animals, no patients had been infected with the virus at 513 government and private health facilities throughout the country.
He said this in reference to a news report yesterday that a 59-year-old woman in Hong Kong was tested positive for the H5N1 or bird flu virus and is in a serious condition at a hospital where she is warded.
“The ministry is also looking at the status of the said virus with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and at the moment, WHO has not issued a statement or advice on actions to be taken,” he said in a statement issued here yesterday.
Following the latest development, the public is advised to take five preventive measures against the virus.
These are:
• Observing personal hygiene by frequent washing of hands
and closing the mouth when coughing.
• Seeking treatment at the clinic if having influenza-like illness (ILI), especially for those at high risk such as poultry farm workers and bird handlers.
• Reporting any case of ILI cluster to the nearest health department or office.
• Reporting unusual deaths of feathered animals to the veterinary department.
• Practising a healthy lifestyle to increase resistance to diseases through healthy eating, exercise and sufficient rest.
Dr Mohd Ismail said his ministry was always in touch with WHO on current influenza situations and the public could call 03-88810200 on working days from 8am to 5pm for more information. — Bernama