Vietnam : More critical H1N1 patients hospitalized

Via Saigon Daily :

" The National Tropical Diseases Hospital in Hanoi received three-to-five patients infected with the A/H1N1 virus per day in February 2014.

Two patients were hospitalized in critical condition, said Hospital Director Nguyen Van Kinh.

One patient is 61-year-old man from Khoai Chau District, in the northern province of  Hung Yen. 

He was sick for six days before going to the hospital with high fever, body aches, and fatigue.

The second patient is a 26-year-old woman from Ngoc Lac District , in the northern province of  Thanh Hoa who was put on respiratory machine to assist in breathing due to a severe case of bronchitis.

A 79-year-old woman in Bac Giang Province died on March 17 from the virus, said Nguyen Trung Cap, deputy head the Emergency Room."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (March 19), an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hunan affecting a man aged 78 reported by the Mainland health authority. He is now hospitalised for treatment.

As of yesterday, a total of 385 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (90 cases), Jiangsu (43 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (21 cases), Hunan (19 cases), Anhui (10 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Greek death toll from flu hits 94

Via Ekathimerini :

" The influenza-related death toll in Greece reached 94 on Monday, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), which has been closely observing a spike in the number of cases of the virulent H1N1 strain this year.

KEELPNO said on Monday that 94 people have died since the start of the flu season this year and 47 are currently undergoing treatment at intensive-care facilities.

It added that a total of 261 have been hospitalized due to the flu, stressing that most fatalities occurred among patients with other underlying chronic illnesses." 

Flu kills another Cambodian tot

Via The Standard :

" A two-year-old Cambodian girl has died of bird flu, the country's fourth known fatality - all children - from the virus this year.

The girl from southern Kampot province died on Friday, a day after she was admitted to hospital, officials said in a statement with the World Health Organization yesterday.

Tests confirmed she had the H5N1 virus, it said, adding that the girl had direct contact with dead chickens in a village where most of the poultry perished in recent weeks.

Health Minister Mam Bunheng urged parents to keep kids from birds as H5N1 "remains a serious threat to the health of all Cambodians and more so for children."

Hong Kong : Imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong under CHP investigation

Press release from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (March 17) investigating an imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong affecting a five-month-old baby girl.

The patient, who lives in Foshan, Guangdong but has been staying in Shenzhen in the past week, developed fever and vomiting yesterday (March 16). She came to Hong Kong with her parents last night and was taken to the Accident and Emergency Department of North District Hospital (NDH) by taxi for consultation. She was subsequently transferred to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital (AHNH) by ambulance and was admitted for further management in the small hours of today.

Her nasopharyngeal aspirate tested positive for avian influenza A(H7N9) virus upon laboratory testing by the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch today. The patient has been sent to Princess Margaret Hospital for isolation. Her current condition is stable.

The CHP's initial investigation revealed that the patient had been taken to a wet market in Shenzhen by her grandparents four to five days ago where live poultry was sold, but the patient had no direct contact with the poultry."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (March 16) received notification of one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Shenzhen from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province. The case involves a woman aged 71 who is under treatment in hospital. 

As of yesterday, a total of 382 human cases of avian influenza A (H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (89 cases), Jiangsu (43 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (21 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (10 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from
Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case).

"Locally, enhanced disease surveillance, port health measures and health education against avian influenza are ongoing. We will remain vigilant and maintain liaison with the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant health authorities. Local surveillance activities will be modified upon the WHO's recommendations," a spokesman for the DH remarked."

Kuwait : Five Swine Flu Cases Recorded

Via Arab Times :

" Jahra Hospital has recorded five swine flu cases, members of a Kuwaiti family, as confirmed by the results of a series of laboratory tests conducted on them and all of them were discharged from the hospital immediately after being given prescriptions. 

Refuting rumors that workers and other patients at the hospital have been inflicted with the disease, Deputy Director of the hospital Dr Ghaleb Al-Mutairi disclosed the Casualty Department received the family last Tuesday after they went for laboratory testing in a private hospital."

Hong Kong : CHP closely monitors one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

"  The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is closely monitoring, as of yesterday (March 12), one additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Anhui according to the latest report of the Mainland health authority. The patient is a man aged 86 who is under treatment in hospital.

As of yesterday, a total of 380 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (87 cases), Jiangsu (43 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (21 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (10 cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

11 people confirmed dead, 10,000 infected in Fiji dengue fever outbreak

Via ABC News :

" Fiji's Health Department has confirmed 11 people have died and over 10,000 others have been infected during an outbreak of dengue fever.

The department's launched a major campaign to get rid of possible breeding areas for mosquitos which carry the disease.

The Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma says the outbreak involves the type-3 strain of dengue fever which has never been seen before in the country."

Hong Kong : Cluster of Influenza A cases in Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The spokesperson of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital (PYNEH) made the following announcement today (March 11):

Five patients (aged 38 to 64) and one staff member of a male psychiatric rehabilitation ward of PYNEH had presented with fever and upper respiratory tract infection symptoms since March 4. Appropriate viral tests were arranged for the patients and their test results were positive for Influenza A (H1). The patients concerned are being treated under isolation in stable condition. The staff member concerned is currently on leave.

Admission to the ward concerned has been suspended and restricted visiting has been imposed. Infection control measures have already been stepped up according to established guidelines. All other patients in the ward concerned are under close surveillance."

Cyprus : Third death from H1N1

Via Cyprus Mail :

" A third person has died from HIN1 flu since the beginning of the year, and six news cases of the virus have emerged in the last 15 days, the health services said on Tuesday.

Last month the services confirmed two deaths in Cyprus from the virus. The two were among 20 serious incidents of H1N1 flu recorded since January 1. Another six cases have now been added to the toll."

Government: China bird flu deaths reach 72 this year

Via The Star, excerpt :

" A total of 72 people died from the H7N9 bird flu strain in China in the first two months of this year, government figures showed, far more than in the whole of 2013.

China reported 41 deaths and 99 cases of H7N9 avian influenza in February alone, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said in monthly figures for infectious disease, bringing the total cases this year to 226.

The Asian country recorded 46 deaths and 144 cases for 2013 in an outbreak which started early in the year and returned in the autumn."

Cambodia reports two new bird flu cases, one dies

Via Xinhua :

" Two more new human cases of avian influenza H5N1 have been confirmed in Cambodia, and one of them, an 11-year-old boy died on Friday in Phnom Penh's Kantha Bopha Children Hospital, a hospital representative confirmed Monday.

"An 11-year-old boy from Kampong Chhnang province was admitted to the hospital last week and tested positive for H5N1 virus, " Dr. Denis Laurent, deputy director of Kantha Bopha Children Hospital, the kingdom's largest pediatric hospital, told Xinhua.

"The boy's condition was very serious when he arrived at our hospital and died on Friday," he said.

Another 8-year-old boy from Kandal province has also suffered from the virus last week, but his condition is stable and he is recovering, he said."

South Korea : Fresh Bird Flu Outbreak Leads to Cull of 50,000 Chickens

Via Chosun Ilbo, excerpt :

" A fresh case of bird flu has been reported at a farm in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed Sunday. This leaves Gangwon and Jeju as the only provinces still free of the virus.

Quarantine authorities in North Gyeongsang Province confirmed that the farm in Gyeongju acquired 6,700 chickens from a farm in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where the highly pathogenic strain was detected last Tuesday.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency found the virus in droppings at the farm. Local quarantine authorities have started culling 500,000 chickens at this and nearby farms."

Australia : Swine flu cases confirmed on Palm Island

Via ABC News :

" Queensland Health has confirmed several cases of swine flu on Palm Island in north Queensland.

One patient was treated at the Townsville Hospital on Friday.

Cases of the virus have already been identified across parts of the state this year.

Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey says residents should ensure they are vaccinated against the flu.

"Certainly I'd encourage all members of the community to attend and get their vaccinations shots at the health service or one of the providers in the town," he said.

He says the Indigenous community is vulnerable to contagious illnesses."

Missing MAS flight: Two giant oil slicks spotted off Vietnam coast

Via The Star :

" Vietnam's Civil Aviation Department planes spotted two large oil slicks that authorities suspect are from a MAS jetliner that went missing Saturday.

A statement said the slicks, each between 10km and 15km long, and 500m apart, were spotted some 140m south of Tho Chu island off southern Vietnam.

The statement said the slicks were consistent with the kind that would be left by fuel from a crashed jetliner.

The Boeing 777-222 jet disappeared from radar screens with 239 people on board en route to Beijing after taking off from KL International Airport at 12.41am.

It went off the radar screen at 1.30am."

Malaysia : MISSING MH370 : Massive search off south Vietnam coast

Via NST, excerpt :

" A massive search and rescue (SAR) mission has been mobilised by Malaysian and international authorities following the disappearance of a Malaysia Airlines (MAS) jetliner enroute to China from here.

The SAR mission was prompted within minutes after MAS requested for government and international assistance, after it and air traffic controllers failed to locate the Boeing 777’s location.

The SAR operations involve MAS, the Department of Civil Aviation, the Royal Malaysian Air Force, the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Butterworth-based Intergrated Area Defence System Headquarters and the agencies from Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, China and the Hawaii-based United States Pacific Command.

The IADS Headquarters administers the five-power defence pact involving Malaysia, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, while the United States Pacific Command has a flotilla of warships and aircraft carriers scouring the Pacific Ocean."

Malaysia Airlines hunts for missing plane carrying 239

Via AFP :

" Malaysia Airlines said a flight carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing went missing early Saturday, and the airline was notifying next of kin in a sign it feared the worst.

The airline said flight MH370 disappeared at 2:40 am local time (1840 GMT Friday), about two hours after leaving Kuala Lumpur International Airport. It had been due to arrive in Beijing at 6:30 am local time (2230 GMT Friday).

A statement posted on the official Vietnamese government website said the flight disappeared in Vietnamese airspace.

"The plane lost contact in Ca Mau province airspace before it had entered contact with Ho Chi Minh City air traffic control," it said.

The plane was meant to transfer to Ho Chi Minh City air traffic control at 1722 GMT but never appeared, the statement said, citing a senior Ministry of Defence official.

Vietnam's Ministry of Defence has launched rescue efforts to find the plane, working in coordination with Malaysian and Chinese officials, the statement added.

The Boeing 777-200 was carrying 227 passengers, including two infants, from 13 different nationalities, and 12 crew members.

China's state television said 158 of the passengers were Chinese. Some 160 Chinese had been due to be on the flight but two missed it, according to Xinhua, quoting China's Civil Aviation Administration.

"We deeply regret that we have lost all contacts with flight MH370 which departed Kuala Lumpur at 12.41 am earlier this morning bound for Beijing," Malaysia Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Jauhari Yahya said in a statement.

The statement said the Malaysian flag carrier was working with authorities, who had launched an effort to locate the aircraft."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification yesterday (March 6) of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Foshan from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province.

The case in Foshan involves a man aged 39 who is currently hospitalised for treatment.

 As of yesterday, a total of 375 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (84 cases), Jiangsu (43 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

India, Gujarat : Suspected swine flu victim tests positive

Via Times of India :

" Tests have confirmed that the 30-year-old man who died at SSG Hospital on Sunday was suffering from swine flu. 

This is the first death in the city due to the infection. Victim Rakesh Shrivastav of Bhagyalaxmi Nagar on Ajwa Road was amongst four persons whose samples were collected after they showed symptoms of swine flu. 

The reports of the other persons were negative. Officials in the health department of local civic body said Shrivastav had no travel history. The infection had claimed seven lives in the city last year."

Hong Kong : Isolation dad explains bid for freedom

Via The Standard, excerpt :

" The father of a family who left an isolation ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital without permission said he had been on the verge of a nervous breakdown over the dissatisfactory arrangements.

The family - a two-year-old boy, who earlier had been admitted to hospital with flu, and his parents - were ordered to return on Wednesday for isolation at the hospital as the boy was placed next to an 18-month- old girl who was later confirmed with H7N9 bird flu.

The family left the ward that night without permission.

The three were eventually persuaded to return after they were put in two neighboring isolation rooms on the same floor. They will remain there until March 13."

Fiji : 8 dengue deaths

Via The Fiji Times :

" Eight people have died from dengue fever as of February 28.

This was confirmed by national advisor communicable disease Dr Mike Kama at a presentation at USP yesterday.

Dr Kama said as of February 28, with the period of data collection from October last year to February this year, eight people had died from the mosquito-borne illness.

He revealed a further three deaths were also being investigated.

Dr Kama said as of February 28, 9825 of suspected cases were reported nationwide.

"These are dengue cases presented to all public health facilities with clinical symptoms of the disease.

"Of those, about 3802 have been confirmed with laboratory testing that they have the disease."

Hong Kong : Epidemiological investigation and follow-up actions by CHP on confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H7N9)

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 6) provided an update on the sixth confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H7N9), which is affecting an 18-month-old girl.

"The epidemiological investigations, enhanced disease surveillance, port health measures and health education against avian influenza are all ongoing," a spokesman for the DH said.

As of 4pm today, 13 close contacts and 117 other contacts have been identified.

The close contacts included household members of the patient, and patients and two visitors who had stayed in the same room with the patient in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). Among them, two are symptomatic and one of them tested positive for Influenza A (H1) virus while the other tested negative for Influenza A virus. Of the remaining 11 close contacts, nine of them tested negative for Influenza A virus while the other two tested positive for Influenza A (H1) virus. They are now under quarantine.

Other contacts included healthcare workers, visitors, immigration staff at Lo Wu Control Point, and the doctor and patients of the private clinic which the patient consulted on February 28. Among them, two are symptomatic and tested negative for Influenza A virus. They are all under medical surveillance."

Deaths from flu rise to 79 in Greece, experts fear more cases

Via Xinhua :

" The outbreak of the flu in Greece has reached alarming levels with fatalities rising to 79 this winter, according to the latest data released on Wednesday.

Within the last 24 hours five patients who had been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu strain, died from complications, according to health authorities.

According to experts of the Greek Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), most victims were suffering from some underlying diseases, while they had not been vaccinated.

Only a third of Greeks belonging to high-risk groups has been immunized this year, according to estimates. Lack of funds in the health system and incapability of people to pay for the anti-flu shots let them exposed to the flu."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received notification yesterday (March 5) of a total of three additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) respectively in Guangzhou from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province; and in Jiangsu and Shandong from the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

The case in Guangzhou involves a man aged 75 who died on March 1. The case in Jiangsu is a man aged 36. The case in Shandong is a man aged 59 with his disease onset in Jiangsu and he returned to Shandong afterwards. Both are hospitalised for treatment.

As of yesterday, a total of 374 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (83 cases), Jiangsu (43 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (three cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Malaysia : Dengue Strikes 3,571 Students So Far This Year, Causing One Death

Via Bernama, excerpt :

" A total of 3,571 cases of dengue involving students was reported in the country between Jan 1 and March 2, and there was one death, according to a statement issued by the Diseases Control Division of the Health Ministry.

It said a primary school pupil in the Federal Territory had died of the disease."

Hong Kong : Epidemiological investigation and follow-up actions by CHP on confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H7N9)

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 5) provided an update on the sixth confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) affecting an 18-month-old girl.

"The epidemiological investigations, enhanced disease surveillance, port health measures and health education against avian influenza are all ongoing," a spokesman for the DH said.

As of 4pm today, 13 close contacts and 120 other contacts have been identified.

The close contacts included relevant household members of the patient, and patients and two visitors who had stayed in the same room with the patient in Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). Among them, two are symptomatic and one of them tested positive for Influenza A (H1) virus while the other tested negative for Influenza A virus. For the remaining 11 close contacts, six of them tested negative for Influenza A virus while the results for the others are pending. They are now under quarantine.

Other contacts included relevant health-care workers, visitors, immigration staff at Lo Wu, and the doctor and patients of the private clinic which the patient consulted on February 28. Among them, two are symptomatic and one of them tested negative for Influenza A virus while the result for the other is pending. They are all under medical surveillance."

Avian flu strikes Vietnam's 22 provinces so far this year

Via Xinhua :

" Latest avian flu epidemic outbreaks were reported in Vietnam's central Khanh Hoa and southern Tra Vinh provinces, raising the total affected localities in Vietnam to 22 so far this year, according to the National Steering Committee on Avian Flu Control on Wednesday.

To date, more than 80,000 chickens have been culled, and two people died of the A/H5N1 virus infection, each in southern Binh Phuoc and Dong Thap provinces."

Woman dies of swine flu in Kosovo

Article from Shanghai Daily :

" Clinic and University Center of Kosovo (QKUK) reported on Tuesday the first victim of H1N1 influenza in Kosovo in 2014 as the pandemic is taking quickly throughout Kosovo.

Authorities in QKUK said the victim, born on 1957, was hospitalised two days ago with a severe infection, afterwards conformed to be a H1N1 virus.

"At 7:30 am, the victim, died at the QKUK, confirmed to be infected by H1N1, or swine flu", reads a press release from the clinic. The victim was from a remote village of Sharr/Dragash municipality in southern Kosovo."

Malaysia : Death of 5-yr old boy was caused by salmonella poisoning - Health Director

Via New Straits Times, excerpt :

" The death of five-year-old Mohammad Iqbal Rafie Mohd Ilme on Monday was caused by salmonella poisoning and 68 people had seek treatment due to food poisoning as of today.

It was believed that they had fallen ill after consuming chicken contaminated with the salmonella bacteria in the fried rice and fried noodle bought at the Dataran Shahbandar and Padang Hiliran night markets.

 

Initial investigation by the Health Department revealed that all those who had seek treatment at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah hospital (HSNZ) here for food poisoning alleged that they had eaten food bought at the two night markets on Friday and Saturday."

Hong Kong : Imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong under CHP investigation

Press release from CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (March 4) investigating an imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong affecting an 18-month-old girl.

The patient, with good past health, developed mild fever and consulted a private doctor on February 28. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for febrile convulsion on March 1. She was admitted to isolation ward for treatment after her nasopharyngeal swab tested positive for influenza upon preliminary laboratory testing by QEH on March 2. Her fever subsided completely and she was discharged in stable condition on March 3.

Her specimen was sent to the CHP's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch for routine detection of respiratory viruses on March 3 and tested positive for avian influenza A(H7N9) virus today.

According to the patient's attending clinician, the patient was initially admitted to QEH for febrile convulsion. She had no signs of pneumonia. There was no known history of suspicious exposure at the time of admission.

Upon confirmation as avian influenza A(H7N9) today, the patient was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for isolation and testing. She is now asymptomatic with no fever.

Initial epidemiological investigations by the CHP revealed that the patient, who lives in To Kwa Wan, had travelled to Shunde, Foshan, Guangdong, from February 5 to 27 during which she was brought to a nearby wet market by her mother on February 24 but they did not buy any poultry. She had stayed in local residence with no known poultry nearby."

Hong Kong : CHP notified of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Mainland

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) yesterday (March 3) received notification of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Zhuhai from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province.

The case in Zhuhai involved a man aged 59 who passed away on March 2.

 As of yesterday, a total of 371 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been confirmed in the Mainland, including Zhejiang (138 cases), Guangdong (82 cases), Jiangsu (42 cases), Shanghai (41 cases), Fujian (20 cases), Hunan (17 cases), Anhui (nine cases), Jiangxi (six cases), Beijing (four cases), Henan (four cases), Guangxi (three cases), Shandong (two cases), Guizhou (one case, imported from Zhejiang), Hebei (one case) and Jilin (one case)."

Malaysia : Tourist with H7N9 now in normal ward

Via The Star, excerpt :

" The Chinese tourist who made headlines for being the first H7N9 avian influenza A patient in the country has been transferred to a normal ward, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said the woman, who was hospitalised on Feb 7 at the intensive care unit, would be sent back once her condition improved further.

“She is now in a normal ward in Kota Kinabalu. Once she is stable, we will send her back,” he said here yesterday after the Jom Hapus Aedes programme.

Dr Subramaniam said there had been no new cases of the virus in the country, adding that those who came into contact with the tourist have been given a clean bill of health.

It was reported that the 67-year-old woman had purportedly complained of fever, cough, body aches and fatigue four days before her arrival in Kuala Lumpur from Guangdong on Feb 3. She then flew to Sandakan before arriving in Kota Kinabalu on Feb 6."

Malaysia : Dengue cases rise fourfold

Via The Star, excerpt :

"  Dengue cases have increased by more than fourfold so far this year, as compared with the same period last year.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said as of Feb 28, 18,047 dengue cases and 36 deaths were reported throughout the country compared with 4,250 cases and eight deaths for the first two months of 2013.

“This concerns us a great deal. We are increasing the awareness and steps to eradicate dengue,” he said here yesterday after launching the Jom Hapus programme aimed at wiping out Aedes breeding grounds.

MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, who is the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Kajang by-election, was among those present to lend support.

Dr Subramaniam said the number of cases was higher because of the change in the variation of the dengue virus."

2 succumb to swine flu in Oman

Via Gulf News :

" Two people have died of H1N1 or swine flu following severe pneumonia, according to a source at Oman’s Ministry of Health.

With this, the H1N1 toll has touched 35 in Oman since its outbreak in 2009.

The official said that the situation is under control and the ministry is closely monitoring the disease.

The ministry called on citizens to ensure good personal hygiene when sneezing and coughing. It also urged should also wash their hands before and after visiting patients."