Interview with Deputy Rector (Students' Affairs), Prof. Dr. Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod



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Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod and Bro Faisal

EMERGENCY or CURFEW

> What does a national health emergency mean?

The Government has declared the Influenza A (H1N1) virus situation a health emergency because of persistent community-level transmission of the virus where there are between 200 and 400 new confirmed cases daily.

During this situation, individuals with influenza-like illnesses such as flu, fever and cough must wear a mask and practice self-quarantine by staying home and avoiding contact with family members until the symptoms subside.

> How long would the emergency last?

The emergency will last until local transmissions can be reduced to below 200 confirmed cases per day and when no related deaths have occurred for a period of time.

> What is a national curfew?

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the Government will only

consider declaring a national curfew if A (H1N1)-related deaths exceed 0.4% of the number of confirmed cases multiplied by 20.

This is to take into consideration that for every one case reported, there could be 20 which are not.

> What will happen during a curfew?

A temporary closure of public places such as shops, schools, universities, libraries, shopping complexes and public events during a specified period of the day will be ordered during a curfew.

> Who has the authority to declare a national curfew?

The National Security Council chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will declare a national curfew based on input and recommendations from the Health Ministry.

* Source: The Star

Guidelines on Closure Being Drafted

Guidelines on closure being drafted in wake of H1N1 outbreak, says Liow

SERDANG: New guidelines are being drawn up for the closure of schools and universities in the wake of the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry’s technical committee was drawing up the guidelines.

“Now that the situation has changed to the mitigation stage, new guidelines are needed to ensure that schools and universities follow the same guidelines on school closures,” he told reporters yesterday after visiting the Serdang Hospital service centre for patients with flu-like symptoms.

He was asked to comment on the closure of schools.

He also told suppliers of the rapid test kits and face masks not to raise their prices unnecessarily or they would have to answer to the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry.

Liow ruled out a need to call for a state of emergency with the current A (H1N1) situation, saying that social distancing programmes and measures sufficed for now.

He added that the public could now check at private clinics and hospitals for suspected Influenza A (H1N1).

In Putrajaya, health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the absence of soap at public toilets in certain airports and rest areas along highways was not helping efforts to promote better hygiene in the wake of the flu outbreak.

“But the public would not be able to observe them if there was no soap to even wash their hands,” he told reporters yesterday after launching the fourth edition of the Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

He added that those managing public toilets needed to cooperate with the ministry’s efforts to curb the spread of the flu, especially because of the large numbers of people using the rest areas and airports.

The number of new A (H1N1) cases in a single day hit the highest number yesterday with 270 cases reported, bringing the total number to 2,253. All the new cases were locally transmitted.

Six more A (H1N1)-related deaths were also reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the number of fatalities to 38.

He said of the six deaths reported yesterday, four involved high-risk patients who suffered from hypertension, diabetes and asthma.

*Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/12/nation/4502199&sec=nation

With Regard to H1N1

All Staff and Students
IIUM

Assalamu alaikum wrt wbt

INFLUENZA A (H1N1) - CURRENT STATUS

1. Please be informed that there has been no confirm case of Influenza A (H1N1) amongst the campus population (Kuantan, Gombak, CFS – PJ and Nilai) as at the moment. However, there have been an increase number of visits to the in-campus clinics by staff and students due to an “Influenza-Like-Illness (ILI)” and common cold/flu (upper respiratory tract infection) in the past weeks. The Health Centre will keep on monitoring this situation and appropriate action will be taken accordingly.

2. Those presented with symptoms of common cold/flu (upper respiratory tract infection) will be given appropriate treatment and medical leave will be issued.

3. Students and staff affected by this ILI are advised to do the followings:
a. Wearing a mask.
b. Practice good cough habit such as covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
c. To practice good personal hygiene such frequent and proper hand washing; and to get enough sleep and rest.
d. Social distancing (self isolate) from others who are not sick and avoidance of public gathering/activities and crowded places.
e. Do not share towel or personal items.
f. Self monitoring of possible complications such as shortness of breath and persistent high fever despite medication; especially for those who are suffering from other diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and bronchial asthma.
g. Report to the nearest health facility if complication arises.

4. Lecturers and teachers are also advised to monitor the students in their respective classes by the following:
a. Students who have fever are to seek medical treatment immediately.
b. Students who have symptoms of cough and cold and would still like to attend the class are to wear mask and seated away from others (at least 1 meter apart).
c. Abnormal class absenteeism should be look into seriously.

Thank you and Wassalam.
DR DINON MOHD
Chief Medical Officer