Ministry widens health radar scope
20 July 2017 Print page
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has stepped up screenings for tuberculosis (TB) and other infectious diseases, said Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
The Health Minister said it is targeting to screen 300,000 people in high risk areas.
“This is an ongoing campaign. The more we screen, the more cases we will pick up.
“The figures will go up but it is a good sign for us because we are restricting the spread of the disease,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Dr Subramaniam said that with proper treatment, the possibility of having new TB cases would be reduced.
The Star reported yesterday that more people die of TB than from dengue or HIV-related complications. The Health Ministry said there were 1,945 TB deaths from 25,739 cases last year, a 14.7% increase over 1,696 deaths from 24,220 cases in 2015.
The number of leptospirosis, commonly known as rat urine disease, cases has also seen a steady increase, from 2,268 in 2011 to 8,291 in 2015.
The figure, however, dropped to 5,284 last year.
Dr Subramaniam urged people, especially hawkers and other food handlers, to improve hygiene and to be careful with their food disposal practices.
He said hawker centres, parks and waterfalls have become breeding grounds for rodents because food waste is not being discarded properly.
On the rabies outbreak in Serian, Sarawak, Dr Subramaniam said the public should not be alarmed because the ministry is fully prepared to handle it.
He said those bitten by animals should seek immediate treatment and that hospitals are equipped with the anti-rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin to treat them.
As for the two girls who were bitten by a rabid dog in Kuala Sepetang, Perak, Dr Subramaniam said the ministry is observing them and performing the necessary medical examinations.
“The incubation period is long. Although there are no signs now, we have to keep them under observation,” he added.
Dr Subramaniam said the ministry is puzzled by the isolated rabies case, which involved a pet dog.
He said it is waiting for a report from the Veterinary Services Department on the source of the virus in the area.
Source : http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2017/07/20/ministry-widens-health-radar-scope-300000-to-be-screened-for-tb-and-other-infectious-diseases/#E6QyhijV2j2t5xrr.99