Health D-G: 985 cases from Dec 10 to 16
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of dengue cases reported throughout the country from Dec 10 to 16 was 985, 35 more compared with the previous week, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He said Kuala Lum-pur, Putrajaya and eight states showed an increase in the number of cases, with the states being Per-lis, Penang, Johor, Perak, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, Sarawak and Melaka.
However, he said, the total number of cases this year, up to Dec 16, was 81,790, compared with 98,438 in the corresponding period last year, down by 16,648 cases.
“One death due to dengue was reported between Dec 10 and 16, bringing the number of deaths up to Dec 16 this year to 170, compared with 230 last year, down by 60,” he said yesterday.
He said no cases of chikungunya were reported for the week, keeping the number of these cases, reported until Dec 16 this year, at 269.
On the Zika virus surveillance monitoring by the National Public Health Laboratory and Institute for Medical Research, he said the test results of 2,199 blood samples and 33 urine samples of patients with symptoms came back negative.
The International Society of Surgery (ISS) had, on Monday, appointed Dr Noor Hisham as the chair of the society’s Global Surgery Committee for the 20172021 term.
Dr Noor Hisham said his appointment was part of his role as the councillor at large in the ISS executive committee.
Prior to his latest appointment, he was appointed to the executive board of ISS as councillor at large for a five-year term from 2017 to 2021. This was announced on Aug 17 during the 47th World Congress of Surgery General Assembly 2017. He is the first Malay-sian to receive such a distinction.
“This adds to the honour of the country; to lead and serve this renowned global society,” Dr Noor Hisham said.
“I accept this global leadership role to engage with national chapters and representatives from respective countries, to develop a framework in teaching and training programmes, particularly in developing countries, coupled with improving the organisation to adopt changes based on creative ideas and innovations.
“This role will also project ISS as a global organisation in surgical development towards quality care, focusing on patient safety. More importantly, it affords the recognition and confidence of the international community in our doctors, surgeons and the Malaysian Civil Service, which is par excellence.”