H1N1 Is Not A Deadly Virus

KUCHING, May 16 (Bernama) -- There is no reason to panic over Influenza A (H1N1) as it is not a deadly virus, a senior lecturer on swine diseases of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) said Saturday.

Dr Ooi Peck Tong, senior lecturer at the UPM's Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, said a regular flu killed between 250,000 to 500,000 people worldwide every year.

"Influenza A (H1N1) is not a deadly virus but it spreads fast as its morbidity is high, however, the mortality rate is relatively low. The normal flu kills more people every year.

"People all over the world are panicking over Influenza A (H1N1) as it is a new virus and there are lots of uncertainty on the virus and as well as its ability to mutate. The people fear more about the unknowns of the virus," he told reporters after attending the 1st Malaysian Association of Veterinary Pathologists Conference here.

With more than 8,000 cases of Influenza A (H1N1) infection and 66 deaths worldwide, Dr Ooi said the people were in fear that a second wave of Influenza A (H1N1) could occur and be more deadly.

"The people are in fear that the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed millions of people worldwide in the second wave will repeat," he said.

With the county's second case of Influenza A (H1N1) detected in Malaysia, Dr Ooi said so far, the Influenza A (H1N1) appeared relatively mild, except in Mexico.

"Until experts know how contagious and deadly the virus is, it is hard to estimate the vaccine volume needed. If the disease remains under control and is stable, only a small portion of people require vaccination," he added.