Published on: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 |
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah reported its first case of influenza A (H1N1) on Monday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 17.
Sabah Health Department Director, Dr Marzuki Mohd Isa, said a 15-year-old girl who arrived here on a flight from the United States last week, was found positive. Overall, five new cases were detected in the country.
"Yes, this is the first confirmed case in Sabah," he said, in a telephone interview. It was learnt that the girl, who is from Sandakan, was detected on thermal camera with a body temperature of above 38 degrees Celsius after she touched down with her mother on Malaysia Airlines flight MH385 at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport at about 6pm on Saturday.
Health workers quickly whisked the girl, who is studying in US and back here on holiday, and her mother to the Lingzhi quarantine centre in Kepayan for further tests.
The girl, who was confirmed to have the viral disease just after noon on Monday, is the 16th confirmed A (H1N1) case in the country.
It was learnt she and her mother took off from the US last Tuesday and stopped over in Hong Kong before arriving at the capital.
Dr Marzuki, meanwhile, said efforts were being made to trace all the passengers and flight crew, especially those who disembarked from the airplane here.
He said the department would be making an official statement on the matter today (Tuesday).
In Kuala Lumpur, Director-General of Health, Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the latest (17th) case was a 26-year-old Malaysian woman who went for a holiday in Melbourne, Australia on June 4 and arrived back on AirAsia X flight D7 2723 on June 13 at 7.15am at the LCCT in Sepang.
The woman who showed influenza symptoms and was warded at the Sungai Buloh Hospital, was confirmed to have Influenza A (H1N1) at 12.35pm.
The Ministry was trying to trace all those, including the crew members and passengers on AirAsia flight D7 2723 on June 13, for follow-up action.
Dr Mohd Ismail advised the public to postpone travel to countries with Influenza A (H1N1) outbreaks unless really unavoidable, to curb the spread of the viral disease.
He also urged individuals with symptoms of influenza A (H1N1) need to seek treatment immediately and refrain from social activities and public places to avoid spreading the disease.
They can contact the Ministry at 03-88810200 or 03-88810300 for advice.
