Press Release
Swine Flu Outbreak
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia is working closely with the Ministry of Health and the Swine Flu Alert Centre at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in monitoring and in taking preventive measures to contain the outbreak from reaching Malaysia. As of 28 April, 2009 there have been no reported cases of swine flu in Malaysia. There have been also no reports of Malaysians residing or traveling overseas who are affected by the flu.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia has directed all Malaysian Missions abroad to monitor continuously the situation and to update Wisma Putra on the matter. All Malaysian Missions were also directed to advise Malaysians residing overseas to take precautionary measures and to heed the advisories as and when issued by the local authorities at their respective locations.
The 60 registered Malaysians residing in Mexico where the swine flu outbreak was first detected and another 5 in the accredited Central American countries are reported to be safe and free from the virus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified human-to-human transmission of swine flu and raised the pandemic level to 4. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia would like to advise all Malaysians planning to travel abroad or to return to Malaysia or currently on a journey overseas to take the following precautionary measures:
a) To plan and take self precautionary measures in avoiding contact with known or suspected swine flu virus carriers or affected countries / areas when traveling overseas;
b) To heed the advisories as issued by the local authorities at their respective locations;
c) To report cases or suspected cases in the effort to monitor the situation and in extending assistance to affected Malaysians; and
d) To take the initiative in creating self awareness on the swine flu outbreak and to be up to date on latest situation
The Ministry will continue to issue press releases from time to time on the development of the outbreak. The public is advised to report to the Consular Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia at telephone number 03 – 8887 4000 should they be aware of or being informed of any cases by their friends, relatives or colleagues currently overseas.
Ministry of Foreign Malaysia
Putrajaya
28 April 2009
