PUTRAJAYA: 47 new cases of Influenza A(H1N1), comprising 41 imported and six locally transmitted, were detected until 8 a.m. today (3 July).

The director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the new cases brought the total number of cases in the country to 291, with 44 of them locally transmitted.

"No death has been reported, while 175 patients have fully recovered and discharged from the hospitals and another 116 still being treated and in stable condition without any complication," he told reporters here today.

"Of the 47 new cases, 28 of them are Malaysians and the rest are foreign nationals from Indonesia (9), Australia (5), the Philippines (2) and one each from Botswana, Iraq and the United States."

He said of the six local cases, three were students of Sekolah Menengah Tsun Jin, Kuala Lumpur, which was closed since Sunday and would reopen tomorrow, and one case who had contact with the 143rd (imported) case.

Another had contact with imported case No. 147 and schooling at Sekolah Kebangsaan Setapak Indah, Kuala Lumpur (6A class), and the other had contact with the 170th case and studying at the Sri Cempaka International School, Cheras (Aqua 8 class).

Dr Mohd Ismail said the two schools were told to close the affected classes until next Thursday and the students would be ordered to be quarantined by the District Health Office.

He said 890 closest contacts of the infected individuals were now under home-quarantine and had not developed symptoms of Influenza A(H1N1), also known as swine flu.

On the global situation, he said the World Health Organisation had informed that until 8am today, the accumulated cases had reached 81,029 with 340 deaths in 121 countries, an increase of 8,057 cases with 29 deaths.

Five newly affected countries are New Caledonia (6 cases), Kenya (12), Mauritius (1), Myanmar (1) and Saint Lucia (1), while the five countries that have recorded a high increase in cases are Chile (2,190 cases), United Kingdom (2,108), Mexico (749), Thailand (640) and Brazil (228).

Dr Mohd Ismail's reminder is for the public to be cautious, and not to take the spread of Influenza A(H1N1) lightly and to follow the Health Ministry's instructions.

This follows one reported death from the contagious flu in Brunei although the country has recorded only 93 cases so far. (Bernama)

Ministry of Health Malaysia

Tel: 03-8881 0200 or 03-8881 0300
URL: http://www.moh.gov.my