The Health Ministry has confirmed Malaysia's first case of A(H1N1) infection after tests were conducted on a student currently warded at the Sungai Buloh hospital.

ismail merican In a statement today, Health Department director-general Dr Ismail Merican said that the 21-year-old youth was warded on May 14 after suffering fever, sore throat and body aches, on returning home from the United States a day before.

"Anti-viral treatment has been administered on the victim and he is in stable condition," said Ismail.

Acting Health Minister Kong Cho Ha, who addressed a hastily-convened press conference this afternoon, five family members who live with the patient have been placed under home quarantine in order to monitor their condition.

Ismail stressed that Malaysians have no reason to panic as his department was collaborating with all relevant agencies to take proactive measures to ensure public health.

mexico swine flu cleanup 060509 01 "The Health Ministry also advises all passengers of MH091 from Newark, USA which arrived on 7.15am, May 13, to contact 03-8810-0200 or 03-8881-0300 for further action," he said.

Kong said that no passengers had been quarantined.

"We are still trying to trace them," he said of the 199 passengers and crew onboard the flight.

"We will segregate them (when located). If they have no signs (of the disease) they can go after a certain number of days," he added.

However, he said there was a fear that some of those exposed to the infected patient may have gone on to Indonesia.

"We mention Indonesia because that flight is a code share with (Indonesian carrier) Garuda so the assumption is that there could be some passengers going to Indonesia," he added.

Officials could not immediately confirm how many Indonesians were on board nor if any passengers continued onto Indonesia.

Kong said Malaysia's alert level would remain the same despite its first confirmed swine flu case as the country was already at its highest state of preparedness since the World Health Organisation (WHO) raised its flu alert to phase 5.

WHO has set the pandemic alert level at phase 5 - out of a possible 6 - which means a global outbreak is 'imminent'.

"We have been on full alert," said Kong. "We are on a level of full preparedness."

As of midnight, May 14, Ismail said that the ministry's Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) were notified of 11 of suspected A(H1N1) victims nationwide.

Other than the case in Sungai Buloh hospital, clinical tests revealed that all suspected victims tested negative for the virus.

MOH travel advisory

swine flu pandemic thermal scanner image 150509 Ismail also said 20 thermal scanners have been installed in entry points nationwide and 9,324 individuals from affected countries have been scanned as of May 14.

"However, no one has been referred to the hospital for investigations," he said.

According to Ismail, Belgium is the latest country to have confirmed cases of A(H1N1) virus, thus bringing the total number of affected countries to at least 34.

Out of the 34 countries, more than 7,457 cases of the deadly virus outbreak has been reported with 70 deaths as at 8am today.

swine flu outbreak 130509 03 Ismail also advised the public not to travel to affected countries while those returning from affected countries showing flu symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

"Furthermore, there is no risk of A(H1N1) infection if meat or swine products are properly prepared and cooked," he said.

Implement exit screening too

Malaysia is also pushing for the WHO to get affected countries to implement exit screening in order stop the spread of the disease amid concerns that a second wave of the disease could be deadlier.

"If we can have travellers from affected countries screened before they are allowed to travel out, this will help us to contain the spread of such virus to other places," Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai told state media before heading off for the 62nd WHO General Assembly in Switzerland from May 18 to 22.

swine flu outbreak 130509 04 The world health body has not recommended travel restrictions following the outbreak but has advised those who are ill to delay their travel plans and urged returning travellers who fall ill to seek medical treatment.

Health officials could not immediately confirm if Malaysia would be implementing exit screening after confirming its first swine-flu case.

On Tuesday, the government urged its citizens to defer travel to the US, Mexico, Canada, Spain and Britain following reported cases of swine flu in those countries.

Further information regarding the virus outbreak can be obtained through the Health Ministry website .