tunku: Seven million could be affected if Malaysia is hit by influenza pandemic

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Seven million could be affected if Malaysia is hit by influenza pandemic

KUALA LUMPUR: AN estimated seven million people in Malaysia could be affected if the country were to be hit by an influenza pandemic.
Between 2% and 22% of those affected would require hospitalisation and at least 5,000 patients would be admitted to the intensive care unit of hospitals throughout the country.
This is based on facts given by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which set the attack rate of the pandemic at 30% and by the current population of 26 million.
Health Ministry disease control division director Datuk Dr Hassan Abdul Rahman said Wednesday that the burden on the country would be high and it was important to have the necessary preparations to meet the challenge of a rapidly spreading pandemic.
“The healthcare system will be overloaded,” he said during his presentation at the Pandemic Human Influenza/Avian preparedness within the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) seminar at the Kuala Lumpur- OIC Health Ministerial Conference scientific programme.
The conference will be opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday
Dr Hassan also said that there was a 90% chance that the pandemic would start in Asia but only 10% of anti-viral drugs and vaccines would be available to the region, while the bulk would be available for the developed world.
He added that preparation would lessen the impact on the health, social and economic sectors.
Among the tools needed to combat such an event, he said, were solidarity, trust and transparency among relevant parties, a continuous flow of essential services and sustained preparedness.
Malaysia had launched its National Influenza Pandemic Preparation Plan in January last year where among its functions was to have proper public health preparations, surveillance, vaccination and standard operative procedures.
The Government has set aside RM60.4mil in the event of a pandemic occurring, besides a yearly budget of RM47mil for items such as seasonal vaccinations, protective equipment, training and surveillance.

more info on influenza pandemic