KUALA LUMPUR: It is the stringent health measures taken that has helped contain the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak in the country. Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the country would otherwise have faced the same situation as Singapore, Australia, Japan and Thailand.

“Malaysia will join them if we down play all the measures and this could lead to untold problems, including closures of schools, workplaces and even businesses.” Dr Ismail was responding to Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen’s comment that the media need to report fairly about the disease, such as by showing it was not as virulent or deadly as SARS.

She said the tourism industry was being affected by the media reports. “We are talking about people’s health and lives. “We are catching people with symptoms early so that they can be treated and sent home instead of them suffering from complications and eventually succumbing to it,” Dr Ismail said of the stringent measures taken.

He supported the media’s reporting, describing it as being not over-dramatic. He said the Health Ministry was not over-reacting or going overboard in their preventive measures but taking proactive measures in handling the outbreak.

Dr Ismail warned that the present pandemic was very challenging as the disease was highly contagious, although it was mild to moderate in severity. He said it was important that the public realise that a second wave of the pandemic caused by a more virulent virus and with more severe consequences may hit our shores at any time.

“So it is important that the public and all healthcare providers in the country be well equipped with the right information and pay careful attention to the advice given by our ministry.” The World Health Organisation reported 71,076 confirmed cases with 311 deaths in 116 countries, as of yesterday.

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