THE Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday said there was no evidence of swine flu in the Sultanate. Assuring Bruneians that there was no reason to worry, Director General of Health Services Dr Hjh Rahmah Hj Mohd Said said no case of swine flu has been reported in the country.
The department yesterday held a press conference in the light of global concern in the wake of swine flu, which has resulted in many deaths in different parts of the world.
However, the director clarified that there was no lowering of the guard against the deadly outbreak and the ministry has already taken many preemptive and precautionary measures to guard the disease, like increasing surveillance on influenza-like illnesses and monitoring of border control posts.
In addition, Dr Hjh Rahmah said they will be conducting thermal scanning at the Berakas International Airport for incoming passengers to Brunei and travellers will be required to fill in health declaration form.
The ministry advised the public to avoid going to crowded areas and contact with people who have been suffering with flu-like symptoms.
Stressing that personal hygiene is the most effective preventive measure, Dr Hjh Rahmah said: "Individuals should wash their hands after using the toilet, before eating and to also cover one's mouth when coughing or sneezing."
She also added there was no problem for people who eat pork, as the swine flu virus spreads through human contact.
"Unless individuals have gone to affected areas such as Mexico, California, Texas, Ohio, Kansas, Canada and New York in the United States of America within the last seven to 10 days, they do not have to be alarmed," she said. The director urged those who have visited the areas affected by the outbreak should avoid public contact and immediately visit the nearest health centre or hospital for examination and treatment.
In addition, she advised the public to visit their website at www.moh.gov.bn or to call their health line at 2384234 for more information on the human swine influenza.
"Countries which have reported cases on affected swine flu victims are the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand, France and Spain," she added.
Meanwhile, in Geneva, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says it could raise its pandemic alert level to phase 4 or even two notches to phase 5 as a deadly swine flu outbreak spreads from continent to continent, a WHO spokesman said yesterday.
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