People at high risk of contracting the influenza virus are advised to get vaccinated yearly.
Sungai Buloh Hospital general medicine department head, Datuk Dr Christopher Lee said influenza could lead to severe illness and death.
In this regard, pregnant women, children aged six to 59 months, above 65 elderly people, healthcare workers, as well as individuals with specific chronic diseases such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, asthma and chronic heart or lung diseases are encouraged to get vaccinated against the virus.
"If people in these categories get vaccinated, there is a 50 to 70 percent chance of risk reduction. Therefore, for those people in the risk categories, we would advise them to get vaccinated every year because it does protect them," Dr Lee told Bernama recently.
On April 16, the Terengganu health department confirmed that a pregnant woman had died of the Influenza A virus (H1N1) three days earlier (April 13). On April 18, the health ministry said seven of the woman''s family members suffered the same symptoms, of which one was confirmed to be an H1N1 case.
Dr Lee who is also a senior consultant physician for infectious diseases, emphasised that H1N1 is not a new virus as it was introduced to the world in 2009 and declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation in June the same year.
"We did not have vaccines then (in 2009) but we do have them now. Most government hospitals stock them but we may not be able to vaccinate everyone due to a depletion in stock supplies or we are not financially able to do so," he said.
He said in cases where vaccines at government hospitals were not available, the public could get vaccinated through their general practitioners (GP).
"You can get vaccinated through your GP or at private clinics/hospitals but the cost of it depends on the brand. It (vaccine) can be as low as RM40 to RM50 or even up to RM100," he said.
According to him, there is a vaccine that covers three different influenza strains (trivalent) and another vaccine that covers four different strains of the virus (quadrivalent).
The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends yearly flu vaccine from an age as early as six months.
It said influenza vaccine is needed every year because the body's immune response from vaccination declines over time and, because flu viruses are constantly changing, the formulation of the flu vaccine is reviewed each year and sometimes updated to keep up with changing flu viruses.
On the difference between a common cold and influenza, Dr Lee said influenza is characterised by an abrupt fever, dry cough, sore throat and runny nose, among others, whereas the common cold is usually typified by runny nose.
"I know sometimes people use the word ''flu'' very loosely. However, flu does not always mean influenza. Common cold does not kill but influenza can lead to complications such as pneumonia that causes death in certain cases.
"The fact is, flu is not a scientific term but influenza is. People think flu is short form for influenza but it is actually a misnomer and not the correct term," he said.
He further explained that a throat swab would be administered to confirm influenza cases if it was necessary for doctors to do so, particularly for patients in the high risk categories.
Dr Lee said in temperate climates like the United Kingdom, seasonal epidemics occur mainly in winter, while in tropical countries like Malaysia, influenza seasonality is less obvious and epidemics could occur throughout the year.
"Most people in the low risk category (a healthy person with no underlying medical conditions) will do well subsequently a day or two after they contract the virus, provided they get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids and take paracetamol.
"Influenza is preventable but it is not something new anymore. Unfortunately for us, it happened to be a pregnant woman who contracted it earlier this month and we lost her because of this. It was a timely reminder that influenza can kill," he said.
Dr Lee also recommended that Malaysians practise cough etiquette to reduce the spread of respiratory illness to others, as well as to make it a habit to carry and use hand sanitisers when necessary.
"Colds and flu have the ability to be transmitted easily through droplets from one person to another and can be spread through touch via hard surfaces or cloth. It is crucial for us to practise cough etiquette, whereby you sneeze or cough into your sleeve, upper arm or disposable tissues.
"You must always wash your hands after you cough, sneeze or blow your nose. However, if you are unable to have access to soap and water, you may use a hand sanitiser as it is more convenient to do so for people on the move. Wear masks too if you need to be in close proximity to other people," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Apr 25 2017
People at high risk of contracting the influenza virus are advised to get vaccinated yearly.
Keselamatan makanan, perubahan iklim agenda utama Malaysia selaku Pengerusi ASEAN
Memperkukuh keselamatan makanan serantau dan menangani cabaran mendesak perubahan iklim adalah antara agenda utama yang akan diketengahkan Malaysia apabila memegang tampuk Pengerusi ASEAN.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: 'Konflik Israel-Iran bukan urusan kami' - FFC
Misi Break the Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla tetap akan diteruskan sekiranya konflik di antara Israel dan Iran terus meningkat.
KKR harap projek naik taraf 3 jalan di Johor dilaksana tahun depan - Ahmad Maslan
Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR) berharap kerja naik taraf tiga jalan di Johor dapat dilaksanakan tahun hadapan susulan pertambahan kenderaan menggunakan jalan tersebut.
KDNK Malaysia suku pertama dianggar berkembang 3.9% dipacu sektor perkhidmatan - DOSM
Sektor pembinaan menunjukkan pertumbuhan yang signifikan sebanyak 9.8 peratus berbanding 3.6 peratus pada suku tahun sebelumnya, terutama dipacu oleh subsektor kejuruteraan awam.
MARGMA yakin permintaan sarung tangan getah global meningkat pada 2024
Persatuan Pengeluar Sarung Tangan Getah Malaysia (MARGMA) yakin permintaan global terhadap sarung tangan getah akan meningkat pada 2024.
Letusan Gunung Ruang: Kualiti udara di Sarawak tidak terjejas
Letusan Gunung Ruang di Indonesia tidak menjejaskan kualiti udara di Sarawak.
[LAPOR LANGSUNG] Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Sah! Tiga kapal tetap berlayar, redah laut Mediterranean 24 April ini
FFC mengesahkan tiga kapal yang terlibat dalam misi Break the Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla akan memulakan pelayaran pada 24 April depan.
Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: Sah! Tiga kapal tetap berlayar, redah laut Mediterranean 24 April ini
FFC mengesahkan tiga kapal yang terlibat dalam misi Break the Siege of Gaza Freedom Flotilla akan memulakan pelayaran pada 24 April 2024 bersamaan hari Rabu.
SkyTrax: Kedudukan KLIA jatuh ke tangga 71
Kedudukan KLIA kini di tangga ke-71 mengikut Senarai Lapangan Terbang Terbaik Dunia SkyTrax 2024, jatuh empat anak tangga berbanding tahun sebelumnya.
China arahkan Apple keluarkan WhatsApp dan Thread daripada App Store
Kerajaan China mengarahkan Apple untuk mengeluarkan aplikasi Whatsapp dan Threads daripada App store China.
Malaysia, Singapore to resume discussions on high-speed rail project soon - Azmin
Azmin said, the discussions would encompass some of the proposed changes in the commercial and technical aspects of the project.
Extend the MCO until after Aidilfitri - AMM
The AMM understood the people's desire to spend time with relatives during the Raya holidays but in the face of this outbreak, social distancing had to continue until a new vaccine was discovered.
Industri pertahanan bakal pacu ekonomi negara - Mohamad Sabu
Kertas Putih Pertahanan dijangka dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat pada November atau awal Disember ini selepas mendapat persetujuan Kabinet.
Do postponements cause delays in the Courts?
Cases may often be postponed or otherwise delayed for various reasons. The truth of the matter is that these delays may be necessary due to the Rule of law and due process.
Tiada perubahan drastik dijangka dari PRU Thailand - Penganalisis
Perjalanan proses itu hanyalah bagi memberi lebih legitimasi kepada kerajaan sedia ada yang dikuasai junta tentera ketika ini.
[OPINION] Opportunity from chaos
The biggest clandestine threat is the evaporation of the middle class across the developed world.
Here are the three considerations we had when we did the Budget - Tony Pua
Damansara MP Tony Pua explained the three major considerations on what went into the development and execution of Budget 2019.
'Kalau nak berkumpul, jangan la dalam bangunan' - Dr Maszlee
Bantahan mereka ini adalah susulan daripada pelantikan Dr Maszlee sebagai Presiden Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM).
Climate change in Malaysia and what it means for us
The worlds climate is changing for the worse, and humans are responsible for that. Lets dive into a touch of science to make sense of this.
Major quake cuts communications, halts oil and gas operations in Papua New Guinea
At least one company began evacuating non-essential personnel after a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit Papua New Guinea's energy-rich interior on Monday.