H1N1 surveillance team in every state to prevent second wave

2009/11/05

PUTRAJAYA: Influenza A (H1N1) surveillance teams have been set up in every state to prevent the outbreak of a second wave of the virus, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said the teams which would be under the Disease Control Division would monitor the situation every day to detect early any outbreak of the pandemic.

Speaking to reporters after launching his ministry's Innovation Day here today, Liow said the number of H1N1 cases have reduced tremendously from 400 to 500 cases a day to 20 to 30 cases.

"In normal days we will also activate this surveillance system. So that we can know how many cold and cough cases we need to take seriously. We have many types of flu. All this needs surveillance, needs data, needs monitoring. So we are monitoring this closely," he added.

Earlier, in his speech Liow said the Innovation Day will be an annual affair beginning this year and was in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's call that innovation be given importance in the public sector.

He also said ministry staff involved in any form of research and innovation need not be confined to laboratories, agencies or institutions but can also contribute globally.

"However, not all research results or innovations can be used in the country. Therefore there needs to be a technology transfer process and cooperation with other countries," he said.

At the function, Tampin Hospital and the Penampang Health Clinic won the Counter Services Quality Award while the Seberang Perai Utara (Butterworth)district dental office and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, took the technical and management awards repectively for Group Work Enhancement Quality.

The Jelebu Hospital received the Financial Management Quality Award and the Sultanah Bahiyah Alor Setar Hospital got the Website Quality Award. - Bernama