226 SUSPECTED CASES OF INFLUENZA A (HINI) NATIONWIDE

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- The Crisis Preparedness and Response
Centre (CPRC) has received notification of 226 suspected cases of Influenza A
(H1N1) nationwide.

Director-general of health Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said Malaysia had two
positive cases of Influenza A (H1N1) on May 15 and 16 while 224 others were
declared free from infection.

"CPRC received notification of 16 Influenza A (H1N1) cases admitted to the
isolation ward of five hospitals for reference.

"Twelve cases were at Sungai Buloh Hospital, Selangor, with one each at
Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Melaka Hospital, Tuanku Jaafar Hospital, Seremban and
Penang Hospital," he said in a statement here Sunday.

Dr Mohd Ismail said 16 cases were confirmed free from Influenza A (H1N1)
infection after tests by the Medical Research Institute (IMR).

World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that Honduras and Russia became the
latest countries to be infected with Influenza A (H1N1) bringing the total to 44
countries. They had one case each.

"Laboratory tests confirmed that 12,149 Influenza A (H1N1) cases were
positive, a 156 increase from Saturday. The death toll remains at 86."

Countries with case increase are Australia (2), Brazil (1), Canada (86),
Chile (5), Costa Rica (6), Italy (5), Japan (27), Panama (3), China (3), Hong
Kong (2), Taiwan (1), Peru (11) and United Kingdom (5).

Dr Mohd Ismail said 18,052 individuals arriving here had been screened with
three cases referred to hospitals for examination.

He added although the virus did not spread in Malaysia, the public should
take the pandemic seriously.
-- BERNAMA