theSun | TUESDAY MAY 5 2009 5

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20 countries have confirmed cases: WHO

by Hemananthani Sivanandam reported laboratory confirmed cases clear of the pandemic infection at
newsdesk@thesundaily.com with no deaths include Austria (one), the moment.

KUALA LUMPUR: The World

Health Organisation (WHO) reported
yesterday that 20 countries have
officially confirmed cases of the in-
fluenza A(H1N1) infection.
This brings the total number of
officially reported cases to 985 at
press time, with 26 deaths reported.
Mexico has reported 590 con-
firmed human cases of infection
with the number of deaths at 25. The
high number of cases from Mexico is
based on ongoing testing of collected
specimens from patients.
The United States reported it has
226 laboratory confirmed cases, with
one death.
The other countries that have
Canada (85), Hongkong (one),
Costa Rica (one), Colombia (one),
The ministry said the health
screenings at all international Cases around the world
ries have
Denmark (one), El Salvador (two), entry points in the country, (WHO) said yesterday its laborato
France (two), Germany (eight), Ire- including receiving passengers THE World Health Organisation in 20 countries.
fl u infections
identified a total of 985 H1N1 strain
land (one), Israel (three), Italy (one), from countries plagued by the ber of worldwide cases of the new
Here are details of the latest num
the Netherlands (one), New Zealand A(H1N1) infection and Malay-
(four), South Korea (one), Spain (44), sians arriving from the said of the H1N1 flu virus:
Switzerland (one) and the United countries, are continuing, and CONFIRMED CASES SUSPECTED CASES
COUNTRY DEATHS
Kingdom (18). all arriving passengers are given 590 2,500
Mexico 101*
A statement by the Ministry of the health declaration form and 0
1 226
Health said that as of Sunday, the health alert card. United States
85 0
Crisis Preparedness and Response It said the Immigration De- Canada 0
Centre (CPRC) did not receive any partment and the ministry will 44 67
Spain 0
reports of patients who needed to be continue to monitor the situation. 18 716
Britain 0
quarantined in the isolation wards As of Sunday, 4,452 passengers 20
0 8
for observation. were screened at all the entry Germany
5 81
It also said all cases admitted for points, including KL International New Zealand 0
observation have been discharged Airport, and no cases were referred 4 28
France 0
from the hospitals, making Malaysia to the hospitals. 4 4
Israel 0
2 13
Italy 0
2 2
0

Is the battle being won?

El Salvador
1 108
Colombia 0
h
suspected cases: Switzlerland, Sout
Other countries with confirmed and Neth erlands,
k, Hon gkon g, Irela nd, the
Korea, Austria, Costa Rica, Denmar e, South
zuela, Peru, Guatemala, Chile, Beliz
Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Vene
EPIDEMIC HAS PASSED WORST, SAYS MEXICO, BUT CASES Africa, Benin, Finland, Norway and
Sweden.

ELSEWHERE CONTINUE TO RISE (H1N * Of the deaths that have emerged

in Mexico, 25 have been confirmed
by
A 1)
ZA WHO as from H1N1.
INFLUEN

HO

MEXICO CITY: Offices and businesses The World Health have infected pigs in
stayed closed in Mexico yesterday to try Organisation said Canada. A traveller
TLINE

to prevent the spread of a deadly new its laboratories had carried the virus from
strain of flu, and authorities said the battle
was being won with a sharp drop in new
identified a total of
985 H1N1 flu infec-
Mexico to Canada and infected his
family and a herd of swine.
Asean seeks US help to
cases. tions in 20 countries. Few countries are ready to take address threat
03

00

Outside Mexico, however, the number
of confirmed cases continues to rise, and
officials say it will take time to confirm
just how contagious and dangerous the
virus is.
Mexico’s health ministry said yes-
terday the flu epidemic had passed the
worst and experts said the virus might
be no more severe than normal flu, al-
though it could still have an impact on
world health and was expected to spread
to more countries.
“The virus has entered into a stabi-
lisation phase. The cases are starting
to decrease,” Mexican President Felipe
Calderon said, adding that Mexico would
begin to get back on its feet again this
week after shutting restaurants, offices,
cinemas and even churches to try to stop
the spread of the disease.
“Our objective is to return to normal-
ity as soon as possible but what I want is
to do that in secure conditions,” Calderon
said in a televised interview.
After days of alarm that had kept
streets eerily quiet, Mexico City appeared
more relaxed yesterday, with some peo-
ple venturing out on bikes or running.
Many no longer wore the surgical masks
that have been almost obligatory in the
city in the last week.
Laboratory tests have shown 590 firm
cases of the virus in Mexico, out of which
25 people were confirmed to have died.
-8
Its toll lags national 881 00/3 chances with the new virus, widely BANGKOK: Asean is seeking assistance from
reports but is considered 02 dubbed swine flu. the United States to address the influenza
more scientifically secure. Action by the Chinese authorities to A(H1N1) threat.
In Turkey, a hospital spokes- hold Mexicans in hotels and other places, Asean health ministers scheduled to meet
man denied that one of its patients had whether they were ill or not, sparked a here on Friday with their counterparts from
been killed by the new strain. Broadcaster diplomatic dispute with Mexico. A Mexi- China, Japan and South Korea are likely to
CNN Turk had earlier reported that a can embassy official in China said the discuss the issue with US Secretary of the
patient had died of suspected swine flu Chinese were quarantining more than Department of Health and Human Services
at Akdeniz Hospital in the south of the 70 Mexican business people and tourists Kathleen Sebelius via video conference.
country. after some showed flu symptoms. Asean secretary-general Dr Surin Pitsuwan
Only one death has been confirmed China denied Mexican complaints that said the video conference with Sibelius was
outside Mexico – a Mexican toddler who discrimination lay behind the measures. expected to involve updates on the H1N1 situ-
was visiting the United States. “The measures concerned are not ation and effective responses.
In the United States, the flu has spread directed at Mexican citizens and there “America, the frontline state, with the best
to 30 states and infected 226 people, the is no discrimination,” Foreign Ministry of defence mechanisms, is willing to share with
US Centres for Disease Control and Pre- spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said. Asean and East Asia its expertise and experi-
vention said. It seems to be hitting mostly The row over confinement has ence on how to face this common threat to
younger people, with very few cases strained what has been a warming rela- humanity worldwide,” Surin said. – Bernama
among those over 50 years old. tionship between the two countries, but
CDC acting director Richard Besser with Beijing courting Latin America as a Singapore issues Home
said there were “encouraging signs” the trade and diplomatic partner, the damage
new strain was not more severe than appears unlikely to last. Quarantine Order
what would be seen during normal Mexico is China’s second biggest trade SINGAPORE: Singapore stepped up its
seasonal flu, but he still expected the partner in Latin America – behind Brazil drive to curb the spread of the influenza
new virus to have a significant impact – and its biggest export market there, ac- A(H1N1) virus yesterday by issuing the
on health. cording to Chinese statistics. Home Quarantine Order (HQO) to contacts
“We’re not out of the woods,” Besser Asia’s trade and tourism could be hit and suspected contacts of the virus.
told Fox News Sunday. by the latest flu outbreak but lessons The order under the Infectious Diseases
The US government said it hoped learned from the SARS epidemic in A crowd Act can be issued to any person who is a
to have a vaccine ready for the new flu 2003 are boosting efforts to counter the offers known or suspected close contact of a
strain by the autumn. effects. SARS, or severe acute respiratory food as it probable or confirmed case of the virus, as
The WHO said flu surveillance should syndrome, killed more than 800 people reaches out well as persons who arrive in Singapore
be increased in humans and animals now around the world in 2003 after first ap- to touch the within seven days after having departed
that the latest H1N1 strain was found to pearing in southern China. – Reuters wild boar. from Mexico. – Bernama

Despite flu, they just want to touch the

boar for luck
by Himanshu Bhatt
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
TAIPING: While the world has gone on
high alert against the influenza A(H1N1)
virus, initially thought to be associated
with swine, thousands of pilgrims are
the jungle nearby after the priest began
feeding a few about a year ago.
Large numbers are now conditioned
to the sounds of the temple bell when
it is rung in the evening and respond by
coming over to be fed.
Ah Tiong said the animals have
Machine operator A. Subramaniam,
50, of Johor Baru, who drove with his
family of six to Kamunting for just a day
to receive blessings, said they were not
concerned about the A(H1N1) virus as
“Malaysia is a safe country”.
Pak Long Ambri, 57, who works at a
MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

having no qualms about converging at a
temple in Kamunting, near here, to feed
and touch wild boar.
Visitors from around the country
gather each night at the Sri Munees-
varar Alayam temple in Anak Bukit to
obtain “blessings” from dozens of wild
boar, said to have “powers” to bring
good fortune.
A check by theSun found a frenzy
of at least 3,000 people at the iso-
lated temple each night during the long
weekend holidays.
Temple volunteer Ah Tiong, 42, said
the wild boar started appearing from
not been known to disturb or attack
people.
“People come to offer food and then
rub a four-digit number on a boar’s body
to have better chances to strike it big,”
he said.
He recounted a story of a bus-load
of visitors who all struck a lottery when
they wrote the registration number of
the bus they had arrived in on pieces
of paper and rubbed them against the
boar.
People with personal and health
problems, including disabilities, also
show up in the hope of getting better.
nearby petrol station, said he had not
seen anything like this although he had
stayed there almost all his life.
He said most people are not con-
cerned about the virus since the place
is spiritual. “People come from Penang,
Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and even
Thailand, and often form a line to use
our toilets,” he said. to rub some ringgit notes against a experience. People say what is hap-
He said married women with prob- boar. pening here is a miracle, so it is okay,”
lems conceiving also believed they “Now there is economic slowdown, she said.
could get pregnant after touching the so it is understandable that people want However, Kiang Tan, 42, who came
wild boar. to come here for good luck,” she said. with her husband from Seremban “out
Lai Chin Leng, who came with her Lai is not worried about any health of curiosity”, expressed concern over
family from the Klang Valley, managed threat. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime the pushing and shoving by the crowd.