CM: Develop new diagnostics, vaccines to face new diseases

KUCHING: New infections are likely to cause severe outbreaks in the near future, with very few or no medical treatment available.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said in such a possible scenario, it’s imperative that medical research and development is geared up to develop diagnostics, vaccines and therapy for these diseases.

He said behavioral interventions and filling of critical gaps in scientific knowledge were important to design better disease control measures.

“Malaysian health authorities are now concerned because infectious diseases such as tuberculosis ( TB), leptospirosis and rabies, which the country successfully curbed in the past, are making a comeback.

Malaysian health authorities are now concerned because infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), leptospirosis and rabies, which the country successfully curbed in the past, are making a comeback. Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister

“Every year, more people die from TB than from dengue and HIVrelated complications,” he said at the opening ceremony of the 3rd International Biohealth Science Conference here yesterday.

His text of his speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

Abang Johari said according to the Health Ministry’s statistics there were 1,945 TB deaths from 25,739 cases last year, a 14.7 per cent increase compared to 1,696 deaths from 24,220 cases in 2015.

In comparison, there were 237 deaths due to dengue from 101,357 cases last year compared to 336 deaths from 120,836 cases in 2015.

He said the increase in mortality rates was alarming and should be given highest priority.

The chief minister believed that experts representing a range of disciplines such as virology, microbiology, immunology, public health, clinical medicine, mathematical and computational modeling and product development, among others, have to come together to fine- tune the methodology and the development of practical tools to assess any new diseases that may emerge.

He said researchers who were involved in infectious diseases could enhance and update their knowledge beyond their expertise.

“Through this conference, I believe academicians, researchers, doctors and policymakers involved in infectious diseases- related issues will be able to discuss their experiences, exchange ideas and present their research findings to their peers of similar interests,” he said.

The conference was organised by the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia ( USM) in collaboration with the Sarawak Convention Bureau.

Director of USM Health Campus Professor Dato’ Dr Ahmad Sukari Halim was also present at the function.