Influenza A (H1N1) only spreads during office hours

It was reported on Malaysia Kini news portal that so far, 26 deaths were reported owing to H1N1, with the last 8 deaths within the past 24 hours itself. An upward spiral in numbers.

Now here's my part of the story:

I was away to Hat Yai for a short R&R trip, for some shopping and a long train ride, something I enjoy very much.

On the return journey, our train was scheduled to leave Hat Yai at 2.20pm local time, or 3.20pm Malaysian time (we are an hour ahead). The journey from Hat Yai to Padang Besar (our side of the border) where the CIQ (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine) is located takes about 55 minutes.

Importantly, as part of Influenza A (H1N1) control, we were given forms to be filled out, and be screened by our local health officers at the border on arrival, and be given health advise briefing, etc.

But then the Thai State Railway were out of locomotives so our journey was delayed by 2-hours! Which means that we left Hat Yai at 4.40pm local time and yes, you worked it out by now, 5.40pm Malaysian time. The Thai locomotive that eventually pulled us to Padang Besar did speed up and I believe we arrived Padang Besar in 40-minutes. So we arrived at 6.20pm Malaysian time to Padang Besar.

In a similar trip made in 2003, when the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) scare was in force, the first order of business on arrival at Hat Yai was health screening.

But this time, we were told to clear immigration first: yes get that passport stamped and officially leave Thailand. Then proceed to the Malaysian immigration counter to check-back into Malaysia.

Alright, so when was the H1N1 screening was going to take place?

You think it was the next order of business, right? Wrong!

Straight to Royal Customs and as usual the custom officers were pretty jolly in asking us boisterously, 'Can you please open your bags?'

To which I asked: Do we get screened for H1N1 now?

The reply from the jolly officer was very animated: 'Oh, ko punya train mai lambat, depa dah balik dah!'

Yes, the 'pegawai kesihatan' went back because the train was delayed.

I asked in jest: 'Kenapa Kastam tak balik dulu, tau-tau lah dah lambat ni?'

And then came in the reply I already expected: 'Kita dah biasa dah kerja sampai lewat. Itu orang klinik tak biasa, kot?'

Yes, the immigration, customs and border police were all there, albeit wearing a mask, but our health officers were not. And is it any wonder why this H1N1 thing is spreading so rapidly?

So, the morale of the story is, H1N1 only spreads during office hours, in Malaysia at least.