It's 32 cases of H1N1 now

By M K Anwar

(Bor neo Bulletin 30 June 2009)

Three cases of Influenza A H1N1 were confirmed yesterday by the Ministry of Health, which has now raised the number of confirmed cases up to 32 cases.

In a statement yesterday, the 30th case was from a 51-year-old female who developed symptoms on June 26 and sought treatment the following day at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Kuala Belait.

The 31st case was a 25-year-old female who developed symptoms on June 28. She sought treatment on the same day at the Department of Accident and Emergency, RIPAS Hospital.

Meanwhile, the 32nd case was a nine-year-old boy who is a close contact of case 30.

All three are undergoing treatment at the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital in Tutong and are recovering well.

No other information was given as to how they could have possibly got infected with the virus.

The Ministry of Health have also confirmed that four previous cases of Influenza H1N1 have recovered and subsequently discharged from the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital.

All together, 14 patients have recovered and have been discharged.

Further to their statement yesterday, the Ministry of Health disclosed that out of the 32 confirmed cases, a total of 216 close contacts have been required to be quarantined for seven days.

These contacts did not have symptoms but due to the exposure to the cases, as preventive treatment they have been isolated and given Tamiflu. A majority of these contacts are quarantined in their own respective homes.
The school term which was supposed to resume yesterday have been delayed by another week to next Monday as further precautionary steps to prevent any spread of the virus. Schools meanwhile have been given the instructions to monitor and check the temperature of students coming back to school next week.

In their advisory, the Ministry of Health reminded those who have recently returned from countries like Australia, United States of America, Indonesia, Philippines, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and United Kingdom within the past seven days to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms.

Those with fever, were also advised to avoid crowded places such as community gatherings, shopping centres, markets, stalls, restaurants, cinemas and swimming pools.

Those wishing to enquire or obtain more information about the Influenza A H1N1 can contact the Healthline 145 during office hours or 8220991 (after office hours).