Achong Tanjong (Borneo Bulletin)

BASED on new measures taken by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Ministry of Health yesterday said it will also standardise these measures by no longer publishing the number of new cases in Brunei Darussalam in its media releases, as previously been practised.

The WHO has informed countries that reporting of individual laboratory-confirmed cases of Influenza A (H1N1) is no longer essential as a monitoring tool.

Thus the body no longer requires countries to submit the report and will no longer publish updates on the number of confirmed cases for all countries in their website.

The Ministry of Health will, however, continue to undertake measures to control the outbreak of Influenza A, as outlined in the Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan such as continuing the surveillance of influenza like illness in health centres, limit the number of visitors visiting patients in the hospitals, encourage social distancing that is advising the public to isolate themselves and to reduce social interactions if they have the symptoms of influenza, prdmote personal hygiene and the surroundings to prevent the spread of influenza.
Patients who have a mild form of the infection and are not at risk of developing severe complications are often allowed to be treated at home.

A large proportion of close contacts who, in general, do not have symptoms of the disease, will also be allowed to undergo home quarantine, if home circumstances are deemed suitable for quarantine purposes.
The suitability for home treatment for patients and home quarantine for close contacts are assessed by the relevant departments, according to the current guidelines.

The Ministry of Health will, from time to time, provide updates on changes in the control measures undertaken.
For further information on InfluenzaA (H1N1) situation in Brunei Darussalam, the public can visit the Ministry of Health’s website: www.moh.gov.bn. The public can also contact Healthline 145 during office hours or 8220991 outside working hours for general enquiries on Influenza A (HINI).

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