PUTRAJAYA (Feb 12, 2014): The first case of the deadly H7N9 strain of Avian flu, which has wreaked havoc in China and neighbouring countries, has been reported in Kota Kinabalu.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the patient is a 67-year-old female tourist from China who arrived in Sabah on Feb 6.

She landed at KL International Airport on Feb 3, and travelled to Kota Kinabalu two days later where she complained of not being well.

A blood test confirmed that she had been infected with H7N9, he told reporters today after a post-Cabinet meeting.

The patient is in stable condition at the intensive care unit of a private hospital.

“She will return to China once she is well. We have checked with Taiwan as there was a case of H7N9 reported there, also brought in by a tourist,” Subramaniam said.

“The possibility of the flu spreading here is minimal as this spreads from birds to humans.”

He said steps have been taken to contain the disease and prevent it from spreading.

“There is no reason for Malaysians to panic,” he added.

He said indications of the disease include fever, cough, runny nose and joint aches.

H7N9 spreads from birds to humans, where patients have been exposed to live poultry.

Subramaniam cautioned Malaysians planning to travel to China to avoid places like poultry farms and wet markets.

On the dengue outbreak here, he said the situation is still bad. “Nearly 13,000 cases have been reported from the beginning of this year, with 22 deaths compared with eight during the same period last year.”

He said the ministry is doing all it can to contain the situation.

The World Health Organisation has announced that dengue is on the rise because of global warming.

Subramaniam advised people to cover exposed parts of their bodies in the morning and early evening, and use insecticides in homes and anti-mosquito creams.