Malaysia confirms first case of swine flu

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia on Friday confirmed its first case of swine flu, a 21-year-old student who recently returned from the United States.

A statement by the Health Ministry's director-general, Dr. Ismail Merican, said the young man was hospitalized on Thursday after suffering from fever, sore throat and body aches. He had returned to Malaysia from the United States on Wednesday.

Tests confirmed that he was infected with the A(H1N1) virus, the statement said. He is receiving anti-viral treatment and is in stable condition, it said.

Ismail said the ministry is in touch with his family members to ensure that he did not infect them, but they have not been placed under quarantine. He also urged all passengers on the Malaysia Airlines flight from Newark on Wednesday to contact the ministry.

Ismail said the public has no reason to panic as his department was taking steps to protect public health.

Globally, 70 people have died of swine flu, 64 of them in Mexico where the virus originated. Four deaths have been reported in the U.S., one in Canada and one in Costa Rica.

According to the World Health Organization, some 6,672 people in 33 countries are confirmed to be suffering from the disease.

The WHO estimates that up to 2 billion doses of swine flu vaccine could be produced every year, though the first batches wouldn't be available for four to six months.

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