Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Health has confirmed eight more new cases of Influenza A (H1N1) yesterday, bringing the total in the country to 101 cases. Of these cases, 29 patients have recovered and discharged from Pg Muda Mahkota Pg Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah hospital in Tutong.

In the category of cases in different age groups, 57.4% of the reported cases were made up of people aged 20 and below, 37.6% between 20 to 40 years and 5% involved those aged 40 years and above.

In view of the increasing number of reported cases, the Ministry emphasises the importance for the public to adhere to the visiting regulations at all government hospitals such as during the stipulated visiting hours, limiting two visitors for every patient and not bringing children aged 12 years and below to visit patients.

Those who have just returned from overseas or showing symptoms of H1N1, are advised not to visit patients in hospital.

The Ministry of Health continued to advise members of the public who have returned from affected countries within the past seven days, and having symptoms to seek immediate medical attention.

It is also advisable to reduce social activities and crowded places such as community gatherings, shopping centres, markets, stalls, restaurants, cinemas, swimming pools and the like.

The public can help prevent the spread of respiratory infections by maintaining good personal hygiene such as washing hands regularly with soap and water and drying them using disposable tissue or the like, using alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers if there are no-hand washing facilities.

The public were also advised to cover nose and mouth when one sneezes or coughs and to discard used tissues in the dustbin, to avoid people who have influenza like symptoms and to avoid going to crowded places.

For further inquiries and information, the public were advised to call the Healthline at 145 during office hours and 8220991 after hours. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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