WHO: Malaysians still take flu lightly

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are a complacent lot when it comes to dealing with Influenza A(H1N1) – this was what a World Health Organisation (WHO) report showed.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the report, drafted by three health officials from WHO and which he received on Thursday, showed that many Malaysians did not take the disease seriously.

The report said Malaysians had a poor understanding and knowledge about how A(H1N1) spreads.

However, Liow noted that Malaysia had an efficient surveillance system to quickly detect those who suffered from the flu.

According to the report, Malaysia’s efficient and sensitive surveillance system was able to accurately record the number of deaths in the country.

Some other countries were still unable to confirm if patients had died of the disease, Liow said, adding that the death rate in Malaysia was still within limits set by WHO.

The officials were invited here to conduct a study in view of the rising number of A(H1N1) patients and fatality. The WHO officials were in Malaysia for a week to study the situation on the flu before they submitted their report to the ministry.

“They also know that we have a good system to detect A(H1N1) patients fast,” he said at the “Let’s Stop A(H1N1)” campaign launched by MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat at Wisma MCA here yesterday.

The officials recommended that more beds be set up at the intensive care units (ICUs) of hospitals, which treat A(H1N1) patients with chronic conditions.

Their scope included studying the country’s death rate, awareness campaign and the public’s response to the pandemic.

Liow said the ministry would ensure that anti-viral drugs were sufficient and sold at affordable prices.

The ministry is also increasing the number of beds at ICUs as some of the hospitals are congested, he said.

Ong said the campaign was to equip MCA leaders at grassroots level with the knowledge about the disease to ensure that they could help the community take steps to fight the flu.

He said the MCA’s Crisis Relief Squad Malaysia had moved into action to prevent the flu from spreading the moment the first case was detected in the country on May 15.

“Now, we have moved into Phase Two – fighting the pandemic,” said Ong.

Ong also urged the people especially the Chinese community to practise “hygienic” eating habits such as using utensils.

He also handed over the A(H1N1) preventive kits to state leaders nationwide.