HEALTHCARE professionals have urged the public to remain calm and only rely on official sources of information on the Wuhan virus outbreak.

In a joint statement, 10 healthcare experts have urged people to also stop spreading false rumours and news.

“We understand the concerns of the rakyat, who want to protect themselves and their families. The best way is to remain calm, to trust official sources of information, and to practise the precautions advised by the Health Ministry.

“Unfortunately, some Malaysians have acted irresponsibly. False rumours and news are circulating on social media. Our Yang di-Pertuan Agong has instructed the rakyat to stop spreading rumours and controversies, and to remain calm,” they said in a joint statement today.

The joint statement was by Dr Khor Swee Kheng, Dr Jemilah Mahmood, Universiti Malaya Dean of Medicine Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Dean of Medicine Prof Dr Raja Affendi Raja Ali, Public Health Specialist Association president Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar, Academy of Medicine Malaysia master Prof Dr Rosmawati Mohamed, Islamic Medical Association Malaysia president Dr Jeffrey Abu Hassan, Malaysian Medical Association president Dr N. Ganabaskaran, Ikram Health Malaysia chairman Dr Abdul Halim Shibghatullah and Academy of Family Physicians Malaysia president Prof Dr Mohammad Husni Jamal.

The statement was also endorsed by Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society president Amrahi Buang, Medical Mythbusters Malaysia president Dr Ahmad Firdaus Mohd Haris, Malaysian Nurses’ Association president Sharipah Asiah Syed Junid Aljunid and Malaysian Association of Medical Assistants president Mustafa Abd Majid.

They also urged people to use social media responsibly and refrain from spreading false information as it will distract the Health Ministry from important public health responses.

The public should only rely on information from reliable sources such as the official channels of the Health Ministry, they said.

“As the situation develops, new measures will be taken. The temporary travel restrictions on Chinese citizens from Wuhan city and Hubei province have just been announced. It is only one tool to manage an outbreak.”

They said Malaysia has a strong track record of successfully handling outbreaks such as the Nipah Virus in 1998, SARS in 2003, H1N1 in 2009 and MERS in 2014 as well as reducing dengue, tuberculosis and HIV, which are equally important diseases in non-outbreak periods.

The country’s capabilities in handling such diseases has been commended by the World Health Organisation, they said.

Malaysia ranks higher than Singapore and South Korea at number 18 in the Global Health Security Index compiled by the Johns Hopkins Centre for Health Security.

Malaysia also emerged as the most prepared country for health security in the British Medical Journal.

“During this period, we appreciate the courage, sacrifice and professionalism of all our front line doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical assistants, public health specialists, epidemiologists and scientists. Thank you for your service.

“Together with the Health Ministry, we must keep them safe and healthy as they keep Malaysians safe and healthy,” they said.

“We must fight this outbreak together as one country and keep our unity and social harmony.” – January 28, 2020.