Malaysia H1N1/Influenza A Case Watch - Updated

[cklam]

Any further updates? Been looking up for statistic... going to Cambodia end of this month... can't seem to find any info on the latest number.

[kimmy]

Can't get any latest information. Seems like the public media has reduced their reports.

[cklam]

I am a bit concerned if they are trying to keep a lid on the news.

[muiyee]

NSW doctors say there has been a surge in the number of swine flu patients needing last resort cardiac bypass machines because their lungs have become to damaged to survive on regular mechanical ventilators.

Six young and otherwise healthy patients in NSW have been fighting for their lives on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, forcing authorities to scramble to redirect resources, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The patients are being cared for at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, which usually only treats about five people with EMCO each year, according to head of intensive care services Robert Herkes.

"This is not an ordinary winter — swine flu is hitting young, otherwise healthy people," he said.

"They start with a sore throat, develop shortness of breath and within 12 to 24 hours have rapidly developed respiratory failure and are being ventilated."

The local cases come as a new US study warned that swine flu attacks the respiratory system in a more sustained way than the seasonal flu, causing far more damage.

The University of Wisconsin study found that unlike seasonal flu, which stays in the head, the H1N1 swine flu virus penetrates deeply into respiratory tissues and increases the risk of pneumonia.

In the study, virologists tested samples of the virus taken from patients in the United States as well as several seasonal flu viruses on mice, ferrets, macaque monkeys and specially-bred miniature pigs.

The study also found similarities between the current virus and the 1918 pandemic that killed millions worldwide.

The 1918 virus also attacked the respiratory system virulently and caused extensive damage, the study said.

Furthermore, samples taken from survivors of the 1918 pandemic showed those people seemed to have increased resistance to the current strain.

"Collectively, our findings are a reminder that (strains of swine flu) have not yet garnered a place in history, but may still do so," the study said.

But it emphasised that swine flu still presented only mild symptoms for the vast majority of people.

Meanwhile the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the current pandemic had grown "unstoppable" and all nations would need access to vaccines.

Britain, Thailand and the Philippines all reported new deaths on yesterday, while Saudi Arabia shut an international school after 20 students were diagnosed with the virus.

As the death toll increased, the WHO official said a swine flu vaccine should be available as early as September and all countries would need to be able to protect themselves.

A group of vaccination experts concluded after a recent meeting that "the H1N1 pandemic is unstoppable and therefore all countries would need to have access to vaccines," said Marie-Paul Kieny, WHO director on vaccine research.


So guys, pls pls pls take care of yourself.

[muiyee]

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/h1n1.php

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?fil...sec=nation

and many more under http://www.google.com/search?q=H1N1+mala...lz=1I7ADBR

---

BTW this is the latest one
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?fil...sec=nation

Published: Tuesday July 14, 2009 MYT 10:38:00 AM
A (H1N1): 32 new cases with 20 imported, 12 locally transmitted


KUALA LUMPUR: Thirty-two people were confirmed to have the Influenza A (H1N1) virus on Tuesday.

Of the 32 new cases, 20 were imported and 12 were locally transmitted, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said that 31 patients still remained in hospitals throughout the country and 666 patients had recovered.

All in all, Malaysia had 804 cases. There have been no fatalities.

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This is abt VACCINE update 4 hours ago

Published: Tuesday July 14, 2009 MYT 9:29:00 AM
Updated: Tuesday July 14, 2009 MYT 12:18:52 PM
A (H1N1): Vaccine available by year end, govt booking now


WHO describes the flu as 'unstoppable'; recommends priority immunisation for health workers

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is currently making pre-orders with international firms for the A (H1N1) vaccine which would be available by the end of the year.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Tuesday they were discussing with WHO recommended dedicated companies on suitable dosage, volume and cost of the vaccine.

He said most of the companies were based in the United States and Europe and were developing the vaccine based on WHO guidelines and samples released by the Centre for Diseases Control in Atlanta.

“We know H1N1 is here to stay, but we have taken the steps to contain the virus.

“However, we need the vaccine in case of a serious outbreak. We are on the early market to receive the vaccine once its ready. I’ll announce the details when we confirm the order,” he said after witnessing a graduation ceremony at the Public Health Institute on Tuesday.

He said the vaccine once received, will be administered to 200,000 frontliners first including health workers, police and immigration.

Liow also added that there were 32 new confirmed H1N1 cases on Tues where 20 were imported cases while 12 were locally transmitted.

This would bring the total in the country to 804 but 666 of those cases had recovered, he said.

On Tuesday, one school and two classes in different schools had been closed due to the detected cases of the outbreak.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported from Geneva that countries should first immunise their healthcare workers when the A/H1N1 flu vaccines are available in order to keep the integrity of the health system in face of a pandemic, China's Xinhua news agency reported quoting the World Health Organization (WHO) as saying on Monday.

"First, health workers should be immunised in all countries in order to maintain a functional health system as the pandemic evolves," Marie-Paule Kieny, director of WHO's Initiative for Vaccine Research, told reporters through a teleconference.

Kieny said a WHO expert group, which convened last week, had recognised that the spread of the H1N1 influenza was "unstoppable," therefore, "all countries need to have access to vaccines."

But given the fact that different countries have different epidemiological situations, the countries themselves should make their own decision on vaccination strategies.

According to Kieny, WHO experts have identified three different objectives that countries could adopt as part of their pandemic vaccination strategy: protect the integrity of the healthcare system and the country's critical infrastructure, reduce morbidity and mortality, and reduce transmission of the pandemic virus within communities.

Although situations are different, all countries should immunise their healthcare workers as a first priority to protect the essential health infrastructure, she said.

As vaccines available initially will not be sufficient, WHO experts also suggest that countries consider a stepwise approach to vaccinate particular groups, notably pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions, who appear to be at increased risk for severe disease and death from the H1N1 flu infection.

Children should also be a priority for immunisation since they can "amplify" the spread of the disease, especially when they gather in schools, Kieny said.

According to the official, some drug companies have already produced the H1N1 jabs for clinic trials, but those for real vaccination campaigns would not be available until September or October.

As most of the production of the seasonal vaccine for the winter in the northern hemisphere is almost complete and is therefore unlikely to affect production of pandemic vaccine, WHO does not consider there is a need to recommend a "switch" from seasonal to pandemic vaccine production, she said.

WHO would also not change its recommendation for normal vaccination programs against seasonal flu, she added.

[chinkw1]

more and more cases in Mal now.,

[chew118]

3rd death oredi

[kimmy]

chew.. it is 4th already.. today got another one..

[donaldtan]

Dear all,

It is indeed strange that all of us take this flu thing lightly. Maybe, our blardy healthy minister is still whispering about it.

Already 4 flers died. I still see people in Klang spitting like crazy.

At TESCO, last week, a pooker just gave a big cough, avoiding his bangga buddies but got me instead! WTF!
Yeah bring more of them 3rd. world pookers to work here cheaply and bring their 3rd. world sickness!

Because of that, I kena go medical. Cleared.

But have not gone to any crowded places eversince. Just watch when the Northern Hemisphere gets to Winter
in late October!!!!! Maybe then we all go into panic Outbreak!!! But then, too late!

Here is a solution and how we can play our part. For 2 weeks, avoid cinemas, parties, lectures, Computer Fairs?URG!
markets, ..........Eat healthily like only fresh fruits and vegetables, use half the time of air conditioning, lots of
rest and less of stress. maybe that will help.

Cheers and Regards
Donald G.H Tan
Birds Talking Too

[aircraft]

imagine...PC fair this week...summor centro got the sale..hahaha...but im going!!! go buy the chocs and eat them..antioxidants ma.....