Malaysia toughens measures to identify flu cases

Malaysia's immigration department has decided to screen all foreign and domestic travellers entering the country through land entry points in the wake of swine flu outbreak.  

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that the department, under his purview, would cooperate with the Health Ministry to avoid the spread of the swine flu virus in the country.  

"Checks will be done at entry points in Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and Kompleks Sultan Abu Bakar in Johor Baru, Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah, Padang Besar in Perlis, Pengkalan Hulu in Perak and Rantau Panjang in Kelantan," Hishammuddin said yesterday.  

He said that all ship crews who have been on board for less than a month at the ports in affected countries would also have to undergo thorough checks.  

The Malaysia Marine Department will also assist the Immigration Department in the inspection to identify locals and foreigners who came from the affected areas.

Thermal scanners had been installed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and health officers would be assisted in checking inbound passengers at the bays and at international arrival counters, Hishammuddin said.  

Meanwhile, a virologist has warned that the flu vaccine jabs which is proposed to be given to about 200,000 of the country's frontliners will not protect them from the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus, but they can help only in identifying potential cases.  

"If they come down with flu-like illnesses even after being jabbed, then one would be more suspicious because they shouldn't be coming down with ordinary flu. Virologist Prof Emeritus Dr Lam Sai Kit said.