Petaling Jaya - No cases of the new severe strain of the Influenza A(H1N1) have been reported in the country but the Health Ministry is taking no chances.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ministry and Medical Research Institute (IMR) were monitoring the situation closely after the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the new form of the virus.

"Until now, what we have is still (the original strain of) H1N1," he said.

The WHO reported that the new form of the virus went straight to the lungs and caused more severe illness, even in healthy people. Liow said his ministry was expecting a detailed report from WHO describing the new form of the A(H1N1) as well as samples for the ministry's task force to test and track with.

"Our special task force will be monitoring this closely and getting regular reports from WHO," he told The Star yesterday.

He said the report of a stronger form of the pandemic virus was of some concern as it came on the heels of WHO's warning that the winter season in many countries was likely to usher in a second wave of infections that was expected to have greater impact than the first which started in May.

"That's why WHO warned us on the second wave. It is more deadly if the new form can directly attack the lungs.

"We will have to give early warnings and alert people on the new characteristics of the virus. Treatment must be strengthened," he added.

Meanwhile, a 49-year-old unemployed man who died of severe pneumonia in the Malacca Hospital became the latest victim of the influenza A(H1N1), bringing the total number of deaths due to the flu in the country to 72.

The man was admitted to the hospital on Aug 13 with fever, coughs and vomiting and was immediately given anti-viral drugs and antibiotics but his condition continued to worsen despite being tested negative for tuberculosis, typhoid, dengue and leptospira infection and died on Aug 19.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Meerican, in a statement, said post-mortem biopsy report, based on lung samples, tested positive for influenza A (H1N1) on Aug 24.This is the first reported death since last Wednesday when a 24-year-old woman, who died on Aug 19, was confirmed to be the 71st victim by the Health Ministry mortality review committee.

Meanwhile, as of 9am yesterday, 202 new patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) have been admitted to hospitals for treatment, while 285 had been discharged, said Dr Ismail.

This has brought the total to 1,515 ILI patients being treated in 97 hospitals including five private hospitals. -- Courtesy of The Star Online