Malaysia is free of local transmission of influenza A (H1N1) virus as there had been no contagion among those who had been in contact with the two infected patients, said Health director-general Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.

ismail merican He said all 222 people, who had been placed under home quarantine for being in contact with the two infected patients, would be freed today if they show no symptoms of the disease.

The one-week incubation period started on May 13, the date the duo entered the country, he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

He said those placed under home quarantine were family members of the two patients, passengers of Malaysia Airline flight MH091 and Air Asia flight AK5358 on May 13, and medical personnel, who tested them.

Mohd Ismail said the Health Ministry failed to locate 39 more passengers of both flights and although the quarantine period was over, they should avail themselves for testing.

Second victim discharged

In a related development, the second Malaysian victim of influenza A (H1N1) was discharged from the isolation ward of the Penang Hospital today.

"The girl has recovered well and the symptoms of H1N1 did not develop further after a week back in the country," said state health, welfare, caring society and environment committee chairperson Phee Boon Poh.

swine flu h1n1 flu pandemic 180509 02 A student in the United states, the 21-year-old was detected to have contracted the virus on her return from New Jersey, United States on Friday (May 15).

She was a friend of the first victim, a 21-year old male student, and both of them had returned on the same flight from Newark, New Jersey.

The first victim was quarantined at the Sungai Buloh Hospital in Selangor.

Meanwhile, a stewardess working onboard the MH091 flight from Newark has been declared free of the virus.