Precaution by wearing face-masks amid the increasingA twelve-year-old girl died yesterday being the first fatality in Brunei involving Influenza A H1N1 virus. The victim said to be a hepatitis and pneumonia patient, failed to survive the H1N1 infection as her body defence system proved too weak to counter the killer disease.
By press time yesterday, the country had recorded 27 new cases bringing the total to 93. According to the Ministry of Health number of cases is likely to increase, but urged the public not to be alarmed.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has disallowed children of 12 years and below from hospital visits.
The Ministry also requested for public places such as cinemas to provide hand sanitizers for their customers. It also advised cinemas to put up banners reminding people on precautions to help control the spread of H1N1.
During a press conference yesterday the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman revealed the sad fate of a 12-year-old patient saying that the 12-year-old was a patient of multiple sicknesses, including auto-immune hepatitis, end-stage liver failure and pneumonia.
Pehin Suyoi said, the child had been in a critical state since June 26. Lab tests yesterday morning confirmed the child was also infected with the H1N1 virus.
The Ministry is now carrying out investigation on how the child was infected with the highly contagious H1N1 virus, he said.
According to Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi, out of the total cases, 58.4 per cent involved those below 20 years old, 36.4 per cent involved between 21 and 40 years of age and 5.2 per cent involved above 41 years old.
To date, 21 H1N1 patients have been cleared of the virus and discharged from the quarantine at Hospital Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Tutong.
The Minister added that epidemiological tests so far pointed that 56 per cent of the cases involving recent travelling history from abroad including United Kingdom, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Johor, Lawas, Bintulu, Miri, Labuan, Singapore, Phillipine and Laos.
While, 25.8 per cent of the cases was infected through contacts and 18.2 per cent are still under investigation. The health minister said it is likely that 18.2% was infected through community transmission but that theory has not been confirmed yet.
The Minister reminded the public the importance of following the hospital rules in the height of H1N1 pandemic.
The Ministry of Health urged visitors to only pay a visit to relatives or friends during office hours, allowing only two visitor per patient and to not bring children of 12 years old and below to visit hospital.
And those who are sick and possess the symptoms of H1N1 were also reminded not to visit the hospital. And once again, the Minister urged those who have just returned from travelling abroad to stay home and away from any form and size of public congregation for at least a week.
Those who have just returned were asked to abandon visits to public places, shopping places, night and flea markets, restaurants, cinema and swimming pool etc.
The Ministry reiterated again that the public can help to lessen the risk of H1N1 from spreading by washing their hands with water and soap and drying them with towel or hand dryer, using disposable tissue that contains alcohol or hand sanitizers if there is no hand-washing facility.
The public should also cover their mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose used tissue into the dustbins, stay away from people who have symptoms of influenza and stay away from crowded places.
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