Malaysian Health Ministry advised Malaysians to exercise caution during their visits to countries in the northern hemisphere following the spread of the A/ H1N1 flu there. Malaysian Health Director-General Mohd Ismail Merican said in a statement on Thursday that the World Health Organization had reported that the flu was actively spreading. Ismail added that 99 percent of the A type flu cases reported in the northern hemisphere were caused by the A/H1N1 virus. As of Dec. 6, the total number of deaths resulted by the A/H1N1 flu worldwide had exceeded 9,596, registering a nine percent increase from the previous week. Ismail urged Malaysians traveling overseas to observe personal hygiene and take precautionary measures if the trip could not be postponed. He also advised those with flu symptoms to seek treatment immediately to prevent the second wave of the disease from taking place. 