First local coronavirus transmission in Malaysia
Victim is sister of first Malaysian who tested positive for coronavirus, says Health Ministry
MALAYSIA recorded its first human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case yesterday, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 14.
The Health Ministry, in describing the “first Malaysian locally transmitted case”, said the victim was a 40-year-old local woman, the sister of the first Malaysian who tested positive for the virus on Feb 3.
The woman was one of the two new cases announced by the ministry yesterday.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad yesterday said the victim attended a family Chinese New Year celebration on Jan 23.
“She developed a fever and sore throat on Feb 1 and started coughing on Feb 4. She sought treatment at a private clinic.
“Once her brother’s case was confirmed, she was traced by officers from the Kuala Muda District Health Office in Kedah.”
He said the woman had no recent travel history to China. The rest of her family members tested negative for the virus.
The woman, he said, had been admitted to an isolation ward at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Star, where she was in stable condition.
Her brother was placed in an isolation ward at Sungai Buloh Hospital after testing positive for the virus on Feb 3.
He returned from Singapore on Jan 23 after attending a meeting, which was also attended by a delegation from China.
Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry had traced 42 people who had direct contact with the 41-yearold man.
From the total, 41 tested negative for the virus.
Apart from the brother and sister, the two other Malaysians who tested positive for the virus were a father-and-son pair who returned from Wuhan, China, earlier this week. They are being treated at Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital in Seremban.
Another new case involved a 35-year-old Chinese tourist from Wuhan, China, who arrived in
Malaysia with her mother and three friends on Jan 25.
Dr Dzulkefly said the woman had visited several tourist sites in Kuala Lumpur and sought treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) when she developed a lowgrade fever on Feb 1.
“The doctor who treated her allowed her to go home. She was given medicine to treat her symptoms.
“The group was instructed not to go out. District health officers later found that the woman was still symptomatic and she was re ferred to KLH.
“On Feb 5, she tested positive for the 2019-nCoV. She is in KLH’s isolation ward and is stable.”
To date, four Malaysians tested positive for the virus. The remaining 10 involved Chinese nationals.
One of them, a girl, 4, has recovered.
Dr Dzulkefly commented on the case of a 17-year-old Canadian, who had collapsed in the city centre and was suspected of contracting by the virus.
He said the teen tested negative for the 2019-nCoV and had since been discharged from hospital.
He said Malaysia remained in the containment stage.
He said those who were told to self-quarantine must adhere to instructions.
Ahead of the Thaipusam celebration on Saturday, he advised all devotees and visitors to Batu Caves to take precautionary measures and prioritise personal hygiene by washing their hands frequently with water and soap or hand sanitiser, as well as wearing face masks.
“Selayang Hospital will help prevent, contain and respond to any possible incident.”