Influenza A (H1N1) data report

Malaysia
Death: 1
Total: 71

New influenza-like illness (ILI): 324
Discharge : 223
Total: 1446

Conform infected by Influenza A (H1N1): 217
Admitted in ICU: 51 (39 are patient that have high risk factor)

High risk patient;
Chronic: 21
Obesity: 9
Children/Baby: 6
Post Natal: 1
Sindrom Down: 2

Global
Death: 2601
Total: 239,985






Source: http://h1n1.moh.gov.my

New upcoming death H1N1 victims

Malaysia Reports Seventh H1N1 Death

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- A woman who gave birth two weeks ago is the seventh victim to succumb to the Influenza A(H1N1) in the country.

The 23-year-old woman died at the intensive care unit of the Miri Hospital at 4am today after suffering from acute pneumonia, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said.

This is the first Influenza A(H1N1) death in Sarawak.

Dr Mohd Ismail said the victim had given birth at the same hospital on July 21.

"After giving birth, she was found to be suffering from acute pneumonia and was tested positive for the Influenza A(H1N1) on July 23.

"She was feverish and was coughing about four days prior to delivering the baby. Her baby is safe and is confirmed to be free of the Influenza A(H1N1) infection," he said.

Seventeen new cases were reported today, all of which are local transmissions involving Malaysians.

This brought the number of cases nationwide to 1,446 as at 8am today, with a recovery rate of 97 per cent.

Twenty-nine patients are still receiving antiviral treatments in hospitals while nine others are receiving them in their homes.

He also said that the Health Ministry was still flooded with enquiries on ways to prevent the disease.

Among the steps to be taken, he said, was to avoid crowded places, observe hygiene such as washing hands regularly and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing.

"The ministry is confident that with the cooperation of all, the Influenza A(H1N1) situation in Malaysia can be contained," Dr Mohd Ismail said.

At the global level, 183,854 cases were reported in 167 countries so far, with 1,307 deaths.

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said there were 110 local transmissions and 25 imported cases so far in the state.

Meanwhile, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) may temporarily close its campus in Serdang should another Influenza A(H1N1) case is detected, its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Nik Mustapha R. Abdullah told reporters here.

Last week, UPM was forced to bring forward its mid-semester break after four of its students were tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, in JOHOR BAHARU, state executive councillor for women, family, community and health development Dr Robia Kosai said the Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Kenanga, Tampoi, would not be closed despite the death of one of its pupils due to the virus yesterday.

In KUANTAN, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tanjung Lumpur was today closed until Aug 9 after a teacher was tested positive for the virus.

Pahang Education Director Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Latif told Bernama when contacted that the students and their parents had been told of the measures they need to take to prevent infection.

"We have asked parents to monitor their children's health and to take them to the hospital if they develop symptoms of infection such as fever and coughing," he said.

In KOTA BAHARU, four institutions of higher learning were closed recently due to the pandemic.

State secretary Datuk Mohd Aiseri Alias said the institutions involved were the Universiti of Malaya campus in Nilam Puri, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Pasir Mas Nursing College and Islamic Science and Technology College, he told reporters.

-- BERNAMA

Health: Chinese Herbs and H1N1

Chinese Herbs Prove Effective In The Cure Of Inlfuenza A (H1N1)

By Vincent Low

BEIJING, July 23 (Bernama)-- Chinese herbs have proved effective in the cure of Influenza A(H1N1) in Ditan Hospital, Beijing where 88 out of 117 patients treated for the disease only on the herbs fully recovered and were discharged.

"From our clinical tests and observation, the traditional method of treatment left no after effects and it is safe, more over the recovery period was shorter and the cost relatively lower as compared to Tamiflu treatment," said Wang Yuguang, spokesman of Ditan Hospital at a special briefing for the media at Ditan Hospital Wednesday afternoon.

He said the advantage of using herbs on these patients was that the doctors could prescribe different combination of herbs according to the individual's health condition.

"Treatment cost per patient using Tamiflu is about RMB56 a day whereas using traditional herbs it cost only around RMB12."

Ditan Hospital first started using traditional medicine in combination with Tamiflu on H1N1 patient from May 15 to June 15, and when the method proved effective, started treating many patients solely on Chinese herbs.

"We have even tested using the method on high risk patients since July 1, and the results proved favourable." said Wang.

However, Wang did not reveal the herbs used to cure the patients.

Ditan Hospital is one of the two hospitals specially designated for H1N1 patients in Beijing since the pandemic started from May in China.

Built in 1946, Ditan Hospital is the highest grade hospital for infectious diseases and comes under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, Beijing Municipal Health Bureau and the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

The hospital had excelled in 2003 and 2004 in the fight against SARS.

Meanwhile, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital has introduced an Influenza A(H1N1) prevention herbal medicine pack.

The Deputy Director of the hospital, Jin Wei, told a press conference earlier that the herbal pack contained seven little packs of four types of herbs in combination, which were said to be effective in the prevention of H1N1.

"Just dip a small pack of herbs in a teapot of hot water and drink it like tea, or used it as mouthwash, and it helps to prevent people for being infected," said Jin.

She said the pack could even cure mild cases of H1N1. However if patients do not recover after taking the herbs for seven days, they are advised to go to the hospital for further treatment.

The combination of the herbs is as follows: Lonicera Japonica Thund-3 grammes, Isatis Indigodica- 3 gms, Mentha Haplocalyx Brip.-3 gms and Glycyrrhiza Glabra-3 gms. These herbs are available in Chinese herbal medicine shops.

-- BERNAMA