Second H1N1 case confirmed

(The Malaysian Insider) KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — The health authorities have confirmed that a second Malaysian has come down with the influenza A(H1N1) virus. The patient is now warded at the Penang Hospital.

The new case, a woman, is a friend of first patient and both landed in Malaysia on the same Malaysia Airlines flight MH091 from Newark, the United States, two days ago.

The first case involved a 21-year-old male student who started having fever, sore throat and body aches. He has been admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital.

Yesterday, director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said all passengers on the flight should call the ministry at 03-… or 03-8881-0300 for follow-up action.

He also said the first patient had been given anti-viral treatment and was in stable condition.

He said the Health Ministry had taken preventive and control measures, including contact investigation into the case and informing the student’s family about his H1N1 infection and his contact history with the passengers and crew members on the same flight.

He said the public should not be unduly worried about the influenza A(H1N1) situation in the country.

The ministry, with the cooperation of all the relevant agencies, was intensifying monitoring to ensure proactive measures were taken to safeguard the health of the people, he added.