MALAYSIA FREE OF WUHAN CORONAVIRUS
Travellers will be screened at borders, says Health D-G
ALTHOUGH Malaysia is free from the new coronavirus that is traced to Wuhan, China, the authorities will pull out all the stops to prevent the virus from spreading into the country.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the influenza infections reported in the country had nothing to do with the strain of virus being referred to as a novel coronavirus in Wuhan.
He said despite this, the ministry had informed its staff, including those at the borders, to carry out checks.
“Travellers found with fever symptoms will be checked and they will be re-checked at health quarantine centres or health facilities at the border,” he said on Wednesday.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to severe diseases, such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
A novel coronavirus is a new strain not identified in humans.
Dr Noor Hisham said screenings of patients at health clinics and emergency departments at hospitals had been intensified so that suspected influenza cases could be referred for treatment.
He said people who developed acute respiratory illness symptoms within 14 days of returning from Wuhan should go for a check-up.
“If there are suspected cases detected in any health facility, the case must be reported to the district health office, state Health Department and National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre.”
On Dec 21, Chinese authorities had reported a cluster of pneumonia of unknown origin among residents in Wuhan.
The World Health Organisation later confirmed that the outbreak in Wuhan was caused by a new coronavirus.
The virus has spread to Thailand when doctors diagnosed a Chinese traveller with mild pneumonia on Jan 8.
In Ipoh, the number of students infected with Influenza A in the state continued to rise, with 79 students down with the disease, compared with 59 on Wednesday.
State Education, Technology, Science and Environmental Committee chairman Dr Abdul Aziz Bari said 47 schools in five districts, namely Manjung; Kinta; Larut, Matang and Selama; Bagan Datuk; and, Perak Tengah were affected.
“Kinta recorded the highest number of cases with 34, followed by Bagan Datuk (17) and Larut, Matang and Selama (12),” he said.
Aziz said only SMS Teluk Intan was ordered shut until Sunday.
In Seremban, 12 new cases of Influenza A infection in the state were recorded yesterday, bringing the number of cases to 34.
State deputy health director Dr Mohd Faid Rashid said the new cases involved preschool pupils in Nilai and Seremban, with five and seven cases reported, respectively.
He added that 41 new cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) were also recorded, which saw an increase from 112 cases to 153.
“However, the influenza and ILI situation in the state is under control. No schools have been closed and no deaths have been reported,” he said yesterday.
In Shah Alam, state Health, Welfare, Women Empowerment and Family Committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud denied a report that a 12-year-old boy with special needs from Subang Jaya had died of Influenza A several days ago.
She said 237 people had tested positive for the flu this year based on samples obtained from 330 people. Out of the number, 67 per cent were students from 46 clusters, who were suspected to have ILI symptoms.
In Johor Baru, 17 confirmed cases of Influenza A had been reported at Sultanah Aminah Hospital.
State Education, Health and Human Resources Committee chairman Aminolhuda Hassan said the cases involved eight adults and nine children, including two 9-month-old babies.
“The patients are receiving treatment from specialists here and are in stable condition.”
He said the two babies were in stable condition.