Ministry prepares for second wave of H1N1
by Hemananthani Sivanandam
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is preparing for a second wave of the Influenza A (H1N1) as the number of cases in the northern hemisphere, especially in the United States and Britain, is increasing.
"The US has declared a national emergency over the H1N1. It shows the second wave is hitting the northern region, so we have to be prepared to face this second wave," the minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, said yesterday.
"We are strengthening our surveillance so we can detect any increase in H1N1 cases in the country."
Liow said the number of H1N1 cases in Malaysia has reduced tremendously but the ministry will continue to monitor the situation daily.
"So far, we are doing fi ne. The number of H1N1 cases has been going down since August. During August, there were up to 500 cases a day but it has gone down to 20 to 30 cases a day," he said.
He said the surveillance carried out at KL International Airport (KLIA) monitors the number of cold and cough cases as well as H1N1.
Liow said it is difficult to forecast when the second wave would hit the country.
"We won't know when. It's very easy for the virus to transmit across the region," he said.
Seventy-seven people have died since the H1N1 outbreak in Malaysia in May.
On another matter, Liow said the 1Malaysia community clinics will be launched early next year.
He said the clinics will be run by hospital attendants (HAs) and nurses who will provide outpatient treatment.
"We will also have visiting doctors for these clinics and will refer some cases that cannot be handled by
the HAs to private clinics," he said.
The 1Malaysia community clinic was mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the tabling of the 2010 Budget on Oct 23.
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