First H7N9 case detected in Malaysia involving Chinese tourist

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has confirmed the first Influenza A (H7N9) case in the country, involving a female tourist from China.

The import case involves a 67-year-old Chinese woman, who had travelled from Guangdong, China, to Kuala Lumpur on Feb 4.

The woman went to Sandakan, Sabah the next day before going on to Kota Kinabalu on Feb 6.

"The woman was referred to a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu on Feb 7, and (after two screenings) on Feb 11, the sample tested positive for the Influenza A (H7N9) virus.

"She is currently receiving treatment in the ICU, put on ventilator and is in a stable condition," Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said in a press conference, here, Wednesday.

Dr Subramaniam stressed that there was no cause for panic over the matter as the risk for human transmission of H7N9 is "very low".