SARAWAK PREPARES FOR HFM DISEASE OUTBREAK

SIBU (Malaysia), Oct 6 (Bernama) -- The Kuching, Sibu and Miri hospitals
have made their respective preparations to cope up with the expected outbreak of
the Hand, Foot and Mouth (HFM) disease this year.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan Hong Nam said the warnings had
been issued to these hospitals to place them on high alert and to set up their
isolation wards.

Speaking to reporters after attending a briefing on the latest situation of
the disease at the Sibu Hospital here today, he said the state government too
would get more IVIG vaccines from the federal government to ensure all hospitals
were well stocked.

"We expect more children to be affected by the end of the year such as
during the forthcoming Christmas and the 2009 Chinese New Year celebrations.

"This is simply because more people will be coming together for the
celebrations and the disease can spread very fast in any crowded situation or
public places," he said.

Sibu is a town, and the capital of Sibu District (2,229.8 square
kilometers) in Sibu Division, while Kuching is the capital of the East Malaysian
state of Sarawak.

Miri is a city in northern Sarawak.