KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry today confirms that the death of seven-year-old Nur Dinie Damia Muhammad Noor Ain was not due to Influenza A.
In a statement today, its director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said Nur Dinie Damia had received respiratory and intensive care by a team of leading pediatric specialists at Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) in Johor Baru.
“However, her condition deteriorated and she was pronounced dead on Jan 13, at 10.48pm.
“Her clinical samples came back negative for influenza,” he said.
Nur Dinie Damia, who was previously suspected to be infected with influenza, suffered kidney and liver failure.
The girl came down with a fever on Jan 5 before being referred to the HSA last Friday.
Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said based on trends recorded from the surveillance activity, there has been a slight increase in influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections cases since the last week of December.
“The increase was seen in Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Perak, Johor, Pahang, Pulau Pinang, Terengganu and Sarawak.
“ILI cases also showed an increase, but the outbreaks are under control,” he added.
He said outbreaks related to respiratory tract infections were also being monitored on a daily basis.
The Sungai Buloh National Public Health Laboratory and the Medical Research Institute are also responsible for monitoring any changes to the influenza virus in Malaysia, he said.
“There have been no changes or mutation to the influenza virus. These influenza activities are similar to the influenza activity reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in other tropical countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central America and South America.”
Dr Noor Hisham reminded the public to maintain a high level of personal hygiene, wash their hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitizer, practice good cough manners and a healthy way of life.