SOURCE: LESTER KONG (THE STAR ONLINE)
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded its highest number of influenza A(H1N1) cases in a day with 569 infections.
There was also one death, bringing the total number of fatalities to 68.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said this indicated that the number of detected cases was still on the rise.
“That’s why our surveillance teams are working hard to detect areas that are persistent in local transmission so we can take measures to cut down on it,” he told reporters on Thursday after attending a campaign on prevention and treating A(H1N1).
He added there were 1,533 patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) who were admitted to 104 hospitals included four private establishments.
From this, 195 tested positive for the virus while 35 patients are in the intensive care unit.
A total of 188 people have been discharged from hospital.
Liow also said that private hospitals could not refuse treatment to patients with ILI.
He added the ministry would probe fatalities caused by late treatment of the patients at private hospitals.
According to a press statement from Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican, the death involved a 33-year old woman who was in the 34th week of her pregnancy.
The patient was treated and admitted into a private hospital in Johor Baru on Aug 8 after developing fever and cough for a day.
She was subsequently, referred and admitted to the intensive care unit of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Baru for breathing difficulties five days later.
Tamiflu was administered.
“However, she died the following day because of severe pneumonia and respiratory failure,” he said.
She confirmed positive for the virus on Aug 14.
Earlier, Liow said government clinics in urban areas would now be opened on weekends to treat flu patients.
He said this was to reduce congestions and long queues at public hospitals.
The move takes effect immediately and the hours would differ from state to state, he added.
“In terms of hours, it will be the same as weekdays from 8am to 8pm for selangor,” he told reporters on Thursday after the launch of a seminar of stem cell research and therapy at Ampang Hospital.
“It is up to the state directors to decide on the exact number of hours to open in their respective areas depending on the number of patients.”
He added the doctors from public hospitals will be deployed to the clinics whenever necessary to assist the staff there.
Liow added insurance companies should include cause of death due to complications as a result of contracting influenza A (H1N1) in policies for their clients, regardless of whether they were new or old policy holders.
“I am confident that the demand for insurance will go up because of this health sit due to H1N1,” he added.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Will social media bring harm or do good to us?
SOURCE: Huei (LOWYAT.NET)
Social media such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are free services that can give you information about the latest trends, almost as soon as it happens; however, the convenience of such technologies does not come without a concern or two. Recently, Mashable reported that the Southeastern Conference (SEC) will be coming out with a new media policy to ban all social media usage at SEC games; which of course, caused this topic to be raging among the most popular trends.
Such policy, which reads “Ticketed fans can’t “produce or disseminate (or aid in producing or disseminating) any material or information about the Event, including, but not limited to, any account, description, picture, video, audio, reproduction or other information concerning the Event.”, is aimed at protecting CBS, the authorized media coverage of the event, because according to The St Petersburg Times, CBS has a $3 billion deal with the conference over the next 15 years.
Ever since the news first surfaced, it created an overwhelming number negative response from just about everybody; the SEC has hence decided to reconsider the ban. On the other side, while it may be harmless to just tweet scores and such, social media can still be a threat to the more sensitive issues - not too long ago, the US Marines were banned from accessing any social media networks for the fear that too much information might be exposed to the adversaries.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Sugar supply likely to fall as unusual weather hits the globe
Source: The Star Online
PETALING JAYA: Sugar is expected to be in short supply worldwide this year because of freak weather.
This is expected to keep the price of the commodity high.
Raw sugar traded in the New York futures market has risen 86%.
Bad weather in India and harvesting delays and crop damage in Brazil – the world’s largest producer of sugar – have contributed to lower supply of the commodity.
India is battling its worst drought in 83 years.
On the domestic front:
> Supplies continue to run low at many sundry shops in the Klang Valley but stocks are starting to reappear in super and hypermarkets,
> Other parts of Malaysia seem to be adequately stocked with sugar,
> Authorities blame local sugar refineries for cutting back on production after over-producing in the first half of the year.
Monday, August 17, 2009
A (H1N1): 2 more die, health curfew if mortality rate reaches 0.4pc
Source: TheStarOnline.Com
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will consider declaring a health curfew only if the mortality rate of those infected with Influenza A (H1N1) goes above 0.4% from the current 0.1%-0.3%.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the Government was currently treating the situation as a “health emergency.”
A "health curfew" may involve the closure of all schools and the cancellation of all public and social functions, medical sources said.
Public gathering places might also be temporarily closed.
The flu took two more lives, a seven-month-old boy and a 74-year-old woman, taking the country’s death toll to 64.
Liow said Monday that 384 new cases were reported, bringing the total number of case to 4,225.
The Government calculates the mortality rate based on there being 20 cases of infection unreported for each one that is reported.
Liow also said that government records show that many of the deaths were due to late treatment, and he urged private doctors urged to “raise their level of suspicion” when checking patients.
In ALOR SETAR, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak urged the Federal Government to declare a national health alert.
He said the state government was willing to cancel all government programmes including the state-level National Day parade if the Federal Government declared such an alert.
“We view the spread of the flu seriously because the deaths due to the pandemic has increased day-by-day,” he said after the Wisma Darulaman staff monthly morning assembly on Monday.
In PUTRAJAYA, Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the seven-month old baby had asthma and was warded in the intensive care unit on Aug 7 for fever, cough and breathing difficulties over the past two days.
The toddler’s parents had sought treatment from a private clinic a day earlier and anti-viral treatment was given to him on Aug 8. He was confirmed to have been infected with the A(H1N1) on Aug 12.
“The baby died on Aug 15 due to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory failure,” Dr Ismail said Monday.
The 74-year-old victim suffered from diabetes and heart failure; she was warded on Aug 10 after she fainted at her house.
Dr Ismail said the victim had been suffering from fever and cough since Aug 8 and doctors began anti-viral treatment on her on Aug 11 but the patient died the following day.
He said she had succumbed to severe pneumonia and was tested positive for A(H1N1) on Aug 13.
“There are currently 33 patients being treated in the ICU and they are of the high-risk group -- suffering from chronic illness, asthma, obesity, mentally handicapped patients, a pregnant woman and a woman who had just delivered,” he said.
Dr Ismail said it was important for those even with the slightest flu symptoms to stay away from public places, from going to work or school, and they should not even take public transport to avoid infecting others.
“The public must be aware that even if they have a slight flu, the A(H1N1) virus can still be spread to others when they cough or sneeze.
“That is why we strongly advise those affected to remain at home until the symptoms cease,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will consider declaring a health curfew only if the mortality rate of those infected with Influenza A (H1N1) goes above 0.4% from the current 0.1%-0.3%.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the Government was currently treating the situation as a “health emergency.”
A "health curfew" may involve the closure of all schools and the cancellation of all public and social functions, medical sources said.
Public gathering places might also be temporarily closed.
The flu took two more lives, a seven-month-old boy and a 74-year-old woman, taking the country’s death toll to 64.
Liow said Monday that 384 new cases were reported, bringing the total number of case to 4,225.
The Government calculates the mortality rate based on there being 20 cases of infection unreported for each one that is reported.
Liow also said that government records show that many of the deaths were due to late treatment, and he urged private doctors urged to “raise their level of suspicion” when checking patients.
In ALOR SETAR, Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak urged the Federal Government to declare a national health alert.
He said the state government was willing to cancel all government programmes including the state-level National Day parade if the Federal Government declared such an alert.
“We view the spread of the flu seriously because the deaths due to the pandemic has increased day-by-day,” he said after the Wisma Darulaman staff monthly morning assembly on Monday.
In PUTRAJAYA, Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the seven-month old baby had asthma and was warded in the intensive care unit on Aug 7 for fever, cough and breathing difficulties over the past two days.
The toddler’s parents had sought treatment from a private clinic a day earlier and anti-viral treatment was given to him on Aug 8. He was confirmed to have been infected with the A(H1N1) on Aug 12.
“The baby died on Aug 15 due to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory failure,” Dr Ismail said Monday.
The 74-year-old victim suffered from diabetes and heart failure; she was warded on Aug 10 after she fainted at her house.
Dr Ismail said the victim had been suffering from fever and cough since Aug 8 and doctors began anti-viral treatment on her on Aug 11 but the patient died the following day.
He said she had succumbed to severe pneumonia and was tested positive for A(H1N1) on Aug 13.
“There are currently 33 patients being treated in the ICU and they are of the high-risk group -- suffering from chronic illness, asthma, obesity, mentally handicapped patients, a pregnant woman and a woman who had just delivered,” he said.
Dr Ismail said it was important for those even with the slightest flu symptoms to stay away from public places, from going to work or school, and they should not even take public transport to avoid infecting others.
“The public must be aware that even if they have a slight flu, the A(H1N1) virus can still be spread to others when they cough or sneeze.
“That is why we strongly advise those affected to remain at home until the symptoms cease,” he said.
Malaysia confirms 6 new swine flu-related deaths
Source: GMANEWS.TV
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia's health ministry says six more people infected with swine flu have died bringing the death toll related to the virus to 62.The Health Ministry says in a Sunday statement two boys and a man have died of pneumonia. All three have tested positive for the H1N1 virus. Another three people died Saturday.Malaysia has reported more than 3,850 swine flu cases since May. - AP
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia's health ministry says six more people infected with swine flu have died bringing the death toll related to the virus to 62.The Health Ministry says in a Sunday statement two boys and a man have died of pneumonia. All three have tested positive for the H1N1 virus. Another three people died Saturday.Malaysia has reported more than 3,850 swine flu cases since May. - AP
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Malaysia to cancel Internet filter
Source: Reuters.Com
* Malaysia to look at other ways of policing the Net.
* Earlier plans for Internet filter shot down by PM
* Fears filter could have been aimed at Opposition
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Malaysia's government on Thursday said it would seek other ways of curbing "the spread of lies and seditious materials" online after earlier plans for an Internet filter were apparently scrapped.
A source had earlier told Reuters the government was cancelling a tender for Internet filter that drew comparisons with China's "Green Dam" project and triggered an outcry from opposition politicians as well as criticism from industry bodies.
Information Minister Rais Yatim dismissed reports of any Internet filter, saying that three ministries have been asked to study alternative means of policing sedition, fraud and child pornography on the Internet.
"They have been tasked to look into the matter and report back on finding a better approach in solving the matter," Rais told reporters in country's administrative capital of Putrajaya.
Earlier, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, which issued the tender, said it was a study on Internet usage so as to boost Malaysian content on the Internet and that reports of a filter were "sensationalised".
But a copy of the tender documents, seen by Reuters, appeared to contradict that statement.
The documents said the proposal was to: "Evaluate the readiness and feasibility of the implementation of the Internet filter at (the) Internet gateway level."
It would study gateway filters in countries that had implemented such measures and "find out (their) suitability for the Malaysian environment".
"The tender is going to be cancelled," said the source, who had direct knowledge of the tender but declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The Information Ministry came up with the proposal for the filter in April, but the idea was apparently blocked by Prime Minister Najib Razak, the source added.
Malaysia wants to double broadband usage to 50 percent of its 27 million population by the end of 2010.
That could bring more people not only into potential contact with pornography but also with the country's opposition. Last year, the opposition handed the government its biggest-ever losses in elections, spreading its messages via the Internet to get around Malaysia's generally pro-government mainstream media
China backed down on its "Green Dam" software, which it said was aimed at halting the spread of pornography, under pressure from the U.S., human rights and industry groups.
News of the Malaysian Internet tender emerged after the government arrested almost 600 people in an anti-government protest earlier this month.
It raised concerns that the government would crack down on the Internet, a popular medium for voicing criticism of the National Front coalition that has ruled this Southeast Asian country for 51 years.
NET INVESTMENT
The firewalls, which the source said could have been introduced six to eight months after the study was completed at the end of this year, could have cost in the region of 200 million Malaysian ringgit ($57.01 million) to implement.
The issue of unfettered access to the Internet is important economically for Malaysia, which has attracted investment from technology companies with promises not to censor.
Its Multimedia Super Corridor, set up in 1996, attracts investments worth 1.6 billion ringgit ($458 million) annually, according to industry data.
Najib has announced a series of economic liberalisation measures to attract foreign investment and diversify Asia's third-most trade dependent economy away from its reliance on electronics and commodities exports.
He said last week that filters were not effective.
Boosting banking, finance and the knowledge economy, all of which are helped by fast Internet connections, are key planks of Najib's economic strategy.
($1=3.508 Malaysian Ringgit)
* Malaysia to look at other ways of policing the Net.
* Earlier plans for Internet filter shot down by PM
* Fears filter could have been aimed at Opposition
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Malaysia's government on Thursday said it would seek other ways of curbing "the spread of lies and seditious materials" online after earlier plans for an Internet filter were apparently scrapped.
A source had earlier told Reuters the government was cancelling a tender for Internet filter that drew comparisons with China's "Green Dam" project and triggered an outcry from opposition politicians as well as criticism from industry bodies.
Information Minister Rais Yatim dismissed reports of any Internet filter, saying that three ministries have been asked to study alternative means of policing sedition, fraud and child pornography on the Internet.
"They have been tasked to look into the matter and report back on finding a better approach in solving the matter," Rais told reporters in country's administrative capital of Putrajaya.
Earlier, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, which issued the tender, said it was a study on Internet usage so as to boost Malaysian content on the Internet and that reports of a filter were "sensationalised".
But a copy of the tender documents, seen by Reuters, appeared to contradict that statement.
The documents said the proposal was to: "Evaluate the readiness and feasibility of the implementation of the Internet filter at (the) Internet gateway level."
It would study gateway filters in countries that had implemented such measures and "find out (their) suitability for the Malaysian environment".
"The tender is going to be cancelled," said the source, who had direct knowledge of the tender but declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The Information Ministry came up with the proposal for the filter in April, but the idea was apparently blocked by Prime Minister Najib Razak, the source added.
Malaysia wants to double broadband usage to 50 percent of its 27 million population by the end of 2010.
That could bring more people not only into potential contact with pornography but also with the country's opposition. Last year, the opposition handed the government its biggest-ever losses in elections, spreading its messages via the Internet to get around Malaysia's generally pro-government mainstream media
China backed down on its "Green Dam" software, which it said was aimed at halting the spread of pornography, under pressure from the U.S., human rights and industry groups.
News of the Malaysian Internet tender emerged after the government arrested almost 600 people in an anti-government protest earlier this month.
It raised concerns that the government would crack down on the Internet, a popular medium for voicing criticism of the National Front coalition that has ruled this Southeast Asian country for 51 years.
NET INVESTMENT
The firewalls, which the source said could have been introduced six to eight months after the study was completed at the end of this year, could have cost in the region of 200 million Malaysian ringgit ($57.01 million) to implement.
The issue of unfettered access to the Internet is important economically for Malaysia, which has attracted investment from technology companies with promises not to censor.
Its Multimedia Super Corridor, set up in 1996, attracts investments worth 1.6 billion ringgit ($458 million) annually, according to industry data.
Najib has announced a series of economic liberalisation measures to attract foreign investment and diversify Asia's third-most trade dependent economy away from its reliance on electronics and commodities exports.
He said last week that filters were not effective.
Boosting banking, finance and the knowledge economy, all of which are helped by fast Internet connections, are key planks of Najib's economic strategy.
($1=3.508 Malaysian Ringgit)
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
HIV infection: 50 mln Asian women at risk, UN warns
Source: Agence France-Presse
More than 1.5 million women living with HIV in Asia were infected by their partners and 50 million more are at risk of infection, according to a report released on Tuesday.
The "HIV Transmission in Intimate Partner Relationships in Asia" report by UNAIDS said the women at risk are either married or in long-term relationships with men who engage in "high-risk sexual behaviours."
The "HIV Transmission in Intimate Partner Relationships in Asia" report by UNAIDS said the women at risk are either married or in long-term relationships with men who engage in "high-risk sexual behaviours."
"That is, men who have sex with men, injecting drug users, the clients of sex workers," UNAIDS regional director Prasada Rao said.
"(It's) a problem of great magnitude that the countries have largely ignored (and) a challenge that we may no longer ignore," Rao told reporters on the sidelines of the ninth International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP), which is being held on the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
Women accounted for 35 percent of all adult HIV infections in Asia in 2008, up from 17 percent in 1990, according to the report.
In Cambodia, India and Thailand, the largest number of new HIV infections occur among married women and in Indonesia the virus is now spreading to long-term partners and sex workers, it added.
"The facts speak for themselves. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of the 1.7 million women living with HIV in Asia became infected (by) husbands and partners while in long-term relationships," Rao said.
"These women are often perceived as low risk... women who have not been adequately covered in our national responses."
UNIFEM regional director for South Asia Jean D'Cunha said a "culture of silence" surrounding the issue of sexuality exists among Asian women and this diminishes their ability to protect themselves.
"There are unequal relations within marriage and the taboo around sex and sexuality makes it difficult for the women to talk openly to their partners. Their partners may not disclose their status or may not know their status," she added.
"The women also fear violence if they talk about sexuality openly... or if they demand safe sex or pleasurable sex, they may be castigated as being too loose or too forward," D'Cunha said.
The UNAIDS report calls for more HIV/AIDS prevention efforts among men who have sex with men, removal of punitive laws preventing intravenous drug users from access to clean injecting equipment and greater interventions with sex workers and their clients, Rao said.
"We must re-double our efforts to avert needless infections among these women," he added.
The Bali congress, which runs until Thursday, covers topics ranging from HIV risks among transgenders and migrant workers to biomolecular advances in HIV treatment and the impact of the financial crisis on those with HIV/AIDS.
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia reported six more deaths related to Influenza A (H1N1), bringing the total number of fatalities to 32.
Source: The Star Online
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia reported six more deaths related to Influenza A (H1N1), bringing the total number of fatalities to 32.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said there was one death on Sunday while two people succumbed to the disease last Wednesday. Three patients died on Saturday.
It was only now confirmed that the five had died of A (H1N1) following post-mortem, he said, adding that the deaths were officially reported to health authorities on Sunday.
“Four of the victims had underlying risk factors,” he said. “In the last 24 hours, 203 new cases were reported, of which 15 were treated in Intensive Care Unit and 67 patients are in the isolation wards,” he said yesterday.
To date, the total number of reported cases in the country stood at 1,982. Globally, 208,155 people have been found to be infected by the virus and 1,688 people from 174 countries have died.
Dr Ismail advised those who showed symptoms and in the high-risk groups to seek medical attention, adding that anti-viral treatment was effective on patients who began treatment within 48 hours of showing the flu symptoms.
High-risk groups include children who are below five years, senior citizens 65 years and above, children and youth under 19 who have been taking asprin for long-term, pregnant women, those who suffer from asthma, chronic lung disease, organ failure, cardiovascular, liver and blood system diseases, diabetic, obese people and those with low immunity.
“Those who show light symptoms should be given symptomatic treatment, stay at home and limit their interaction with others.”
In Perak, state Health committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said another institution - the Mara Junior Science College in Lenggong - had been ordered to close.
A total of 41 schools and institutions in Pahang have been closed but 11 had reopened, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said.
“The staff of the state health department are doing their level best to curb the spread of the virus.”
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia reported six more deaths related to Influenza A (H1N1), bringing the total number of fatalities to 32.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said there was one death on Sunday while two people succumbed to the disease last Wednesday. Three patients died on Saturday.
It was only now confirmed that the five had died of A (H1N1) following post-mortem, he said, adding that the deaths were officially reported to health authorities on Sunday.
“Four of the victims had underlying risk factors,” he said. “In the last 24 hours, 203 new cases were reported, of which 15 were treated in Intensive Care Unit and 67 patients are in the isolation wards,” he said yesterday.
To date, the total number of reported cases in the country stood at 1,982. Globally, 208,155 people have been found to be infected by the virus and 1,688 people from 174 countries have died.
Dr Ismail advised those who showed symptoms and in the high-risk groups to seek medical attention, adding that anti-viral treatment was effective on patients who began treatment within 48 hours of showing the flu symptoms.
High-risk groups include children who are below five years, senior citizens 65 years and above, children and youth under 19 who have been taking asprin for long-term, pregnant women, those who suffer from asthma, chronic lung disease, organ failure, cardiovascular, liver and blood system diseases, diabetic, obese people and those with low immunity.
“Those who show light symptoms should be given symptomatic treatment, stay at home and limit their interaction with others.”
In Perak, state Health committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said another institution - the Mara Junior Science College in Lenggong - had been ordered to close.
A total of 41 schools and institutions in Pahang have been closed but 11 had reopened, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said.
“The staff of the state health department are doing their level best to curb the spread of the virus.”
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