Masks, hand sanitizer help halt flu spread

From yahoo health (reuters) :

" College students living in residency halls who wore the masks for a few hours a day and regularly used alcohol-based hand sanitizer cut their risk of coming down with flu-like illness by up to half, Dr. Allison E. Aiello of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and her colleagues found. "

"We do think it probably would generalize to other settings in which you have people living in close quarters and eating in shared facilities" -- for example military barracks or nursing homes, Aiello told Reuters Health in an interview. "We can probably even bring this to the household setting."

Read the whole article :

http://fe4.health.re1.yahoo.com/news/reuters/us_sanitizer_flu.html;_ylt=AnYPJPd77cbtAJ_eeJLIDyemxbAB

H1N1 update in Malaysia

The latest H1N1 situation in Malaysia from the Ministry of Health with my translation:

"Within the last week (17 to 23 January 2010) a total of 311 new patients with symptoms of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) has been admitted to the hospital for treatment and while 347 cases have been discharged. The remaining cases that are still being treated across the country on the last day of the week 03/2010 (January 23, 2010) is 325 cases in 39 government hospitals. Of these, only 17 patients or 5.2% is Influenza A (H1N1) confirmed through laboratory tests. Until January 23, 2010, the total number of positive influenza A (H1N1) is 12,380. For your information, there are 2 cases of H1N1 are being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Both have risk factors."

http://h1n1.moh.gov.my/KenyataanAkhbarTerkini.php (this is in Malay language)

From around the world - France

France talks tough with drug firms on flu vaccines :

" France is in "tough" talks with drug companies to cancel orders for millions of swine flu vaccines and insists on scratching the deals instead of renegotiating them, its health minister said on Friday.

France earlier this month moved to cancel purchases of 50 million swine flu vaccines after ordering far more than needed, but was confident at the time that it would not have to compensate the big companies that provide them."

The whole article :

http://health.yahoo.com/news/afp/francehealthfluvaccine_20100122170412.html;_ylt=AkspT9IMk4xVlhzxAANg3sWmxbAB

WHO - Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 84

The latest from WHO with regards to H1N1 :

"22 January 2010 -- As of 17 January 2010, worldwide more than 209 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 14142 deaths.

WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of information."

Please read the whole informative article:

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_01_22/en/index.html

H1N1 Vaccine in Malaysia

Now I want you to be the judge based on the following news articles :

1) An article in the Star dated 27th December 2009

http://thestar.com.my/ah1n1flu/story.asp?file=/2009/12/27/ah1n1flu/5362081&sec=ah1n1flu

2) An article in the News Straits Times dated 25th January 2010

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/10vac/Article/index_html

Please read both of the articles and tell me what you think. Lets see whether great minds think alike :)

Steps to fight a second wave

The Malaysian government is going all out to fight H1N1 in Malaysia. Please read the latest article in the News Straits Times. Excerpt:

" The cabinet has approved RM158 million for the Health Ministry to upgrade intensive care units at government hospitals, staff skills and treatment in preparation for a possible second wave of influenza A (H1N1).

Should the country be hit again, hospitals would be better equipped as there would be more ventilators, personal protective gear, antiviral drugs and vaccines."

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/10fw/Article/index_html

A good note!

Kudos to Dr. Rosemawati Ariffin from the Disease Control Division Ministry of Health in Malaysia for taking the time off to reply to my e-mail with regards to the current H1N1 situation in Malaysia.

According to her that the situation in Malaysia is currently under control with limited number of positive H1N1 cases per week.

Anyway once again, thanks a million Dr. Rose, keep up the good work!

Factory Workers In Bangi Merely Having Seasonal Flu, Not H1N1: Ismail Merican

Like the post before this, I think it's time for Malaysians to stand guard against the on-slaught of fresh new H1N1 infections. Let's not allow the fatalities mount. As someone mentioned before "A single death is a tragedy".

Anyway the following is an article from a local news agency, Bernama which states an ILI cluster case in a town called Bandar Baru Bangi in Malaysia. Please read the whole article to understand the situation.

Excerpt :

"A group factory workers in Bandar Baru Bangi near here, who were reported to have shown influenza-like symptoms, are merely having seasonal flu due to viral infections and not influenza A (H1N1), Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said."

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=469853

355 Influenza Like Illness Cases Detected Last Week

I have a strange feeling that we are in the "Second Wave" of H1N1 infections here in Malaysia, but it looks like no one wants to admit it. I have even written an e-mail to the Ministry of Health in Malaysia but it has been almost 2 weeks without any reply. Hmmmm very scary.

Anyway the latest update from Malaysia with regards to H1N1 from the director-general of the MOH, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican :

" A total of 355 new patients were warded between Jan 10 and 16 for influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.He said during the same period 339 patients were also discharged after being treated for ILI."

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=469818

355 Influenza-Like Illness Cases Reported

By the look of this report the number of cases in Malaysia is increasing almost 50%. Excerpt:

"A total of 460 new patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms were hospitalised over the last three weeks, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said Wednesday."

The whole report: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=468154

You can also visit this official MOH Site with full report. It's in Malay language but the numbers stands out : http://h1n1.moh.gov.my/KenyataanAkhbarTerkini.php

Free jabs next month for high-risk people

Another news article with regards to the vaccination effort in Malaysia :

"From next month, vaccinations will be given to people who are susceptible to influenza A (H1N1), especially pregnant women, the obese and those with low immunity.
The Health Ministry is ordering a second batch of H1N1 vaccine, with a total of 400,000 doses, at a cost of RM14 million from GlaxoSmithKline at the end of this month."

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/10afd/Article/index_html

200,000 Doses Of H1N1 Vaccine For High-Risk Groups From February

The latest on the vaccination effort in Malaysia, excerpt:

"Some 200,000 doses of Influenza A(H1N1) vaccine will be allocated for high-risk groups such as pregnant women, children, the elderly and people with chronic diseases beginning next month.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said they could get vaccinated with the vaccine for free at the government hospitals and clinics."

Please read the whole article:

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=467848

H1N1 Influenza Action Ministry of Health Malaysia for Epid Week 52/2009 (December 27, 2009 to 02 Januari 2010)

I used Google Translate for this article which is in Bahasa Malaysia. (This is the first time I'm using Google Translate), but I had to edit it myself because some of the translation is incorrect. Anyway the latest situation in Malaysia so far.........

" Within the last week (December 27, 2009 to 02 Januari 2010) a total of 253 new patients with symptoms of Influenza-Like Illness (Inclusion) has been admitted to hospital for treatment, while 294 cases have been discharged. The remaining cases which are still being treated across the country on the last day of the week epid 52/2009 (January 2, 2010) is of 234 cases in 42 hospitals including two 3 private hospitals. Of these, only 13 patients or 5.6% is a case of Influenza A (H1N1) is confirmed through laboratory tests. Until January 2, 2009, the number of cummulative cases positive influenza A (H1N1) is 12,307. For your information, there are 2 cases of H1N1 are being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). One of whom is a child of children aged below 5 years. No new cases of H1N1 death and permanent total is 77 for the year 2009."


The whole article in Bahasa : http://h1n1.moh.gov.my/KenyataanAkhbarTerkini.php

H1N1 vaccination

A long article by Dr Milton Lum who is a member of the board of Medical Defence Malaysia. It is a must read. Informative and important. Excerpt :

" THERE have been several developments since the H1N1 pandemic was declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on June 11, 2009.

Data on its clinical features and those at risk of complications have been published and are still emerging. It is now known that between 1% and 10% of patients with clinical illness require hospitalisation. Globally, teenagers and young adults account for the majority of cases, with hospitalisation rates highest in very young children."

Whole article : http://thestar.com.my/ah1n1flu/story.asp?file=/2010/1/10/ah1n1flu/5430173&sec=ah1n1flu

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 - update 82 (WHO)

Excerpt :

" 8 January 2010 -- As of 3 January 2009, worldwide more than 208 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including at least 12799 deaths.

WHO is actively monitoring the progress of the pandemic through frequent consultations with the WHO Regional Offices and member states and through monitoring of multiple sources of information."

Please read the whole article :

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2010_01_08/en/index.html

Hand Hygiene To Combat Spread Of Flu Virus?

Here's part 2, excerpt :

"In order to assist the control over the spread of the H1N1 (influenza A) virus, the public should understand how the disease spread and what they can do to minimise the chances of them being infected by this virus.Respiratory diseases specialist Dr Anne Tan said the health authorities believed the influenza A virus 'moved' from one individual to another the same way as that of the seasonal flu virus.She said influenza virus usually spread via the 'droplet infection', during coughing or sneezing. The respiratory secretions of those with flu contain a high number of influenza virus."

Again, please read the whole article:

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=466077

Mother, Why Do We Need To Wash Our Hands?"

A 2 part article from Bernama, Malaysian news agency - long article but very informative, let's all combat H1N1 together. Excerpt :

" Recently, when dining at a food court here, this writer heard a small boy enquiring from his mother on why he should wash his hands before eating."We have to wash our hands in order to get rid of the germs. If we happened to touch food with hands contaminated by germs and we later consume the food, then we can get sick afterwards," answered the mother being aware of the possible infections against her small child and also the danger posed by the H1N1 influenza, also known as the A influenza that is still around and in the pandemic state across the globe since April last year."

Please read the whole article part 1:

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=466069

2010 !!!

A new year with a new resolution, that's what most of us have in mind. No matter what it is, have faith in God and all will be well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! GOD BLESS!