KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is the best place for tourists to visit at the moment as health authorities here are not taking the influenza A (H1N1) global outbreak lightly.

“It is because of the (stringent preventive) measures we initiated that today we are still in the containment stage and not mitigating, as some countries are doing,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

Citing examples, he said Singapore had 701 confirmed cases, Philippines (861 with one death), Japan (1,212), Thailand (774), Hong Kong (726), United States (27,717 with 127 deaths), Mexico (8,279 with 116 deaths), Canada (7,775 with 21 deaths), Britain (4,250 with one death) and Australia (4,038 with seven deaths).

Liow chided Tourism Minister Datuk Dr. Ng Yen Yen for raising concern over tourism numbers due to the media coverage on the influenza A situation here.

He said tourists should be happier coming to Malaysia because of the stringent measures put in place.

Liow said Malaysia only had 196 cases with 166 imported infections and the rest local transmissions.

As all those detected with fever upon arrival were immediately isolated and contacts of those found positive were traced and placed under home quarantine, the disease
The minister said because of this, visitors to Malaysia could move around freely with no fear of being infected.

Liow, who was visibly upset over Ng’s statement, later met with her and tourism industry representatives to explain why the Health Ministry had to implement stringent measures.

“Our aim is to protect our citizens and I must stress that the disease is highly contagious although it is mild to moderate in severity.”

He said if firm measures were not put in place, many people would be hospitalised with the disease, which could also be fatal for those suffering from other illnesses and chronic lung diseases.

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