THE surge in influenza cases in Malaysia has nothing to do with the novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

He said that based on observations, there were so far no suspected novel coronavirus cases reported to the Health Ministry.  

However, he said the ministry would step up monitoring and preparedness to face the possibility of the Wuhan coronavirus spreading in Malaysia. 

“The influenza situation reported in Malaysia is under control and is not linked to the outbreak (in Wuhan).

“The Health Ministry will continue to monitor the situation on lung infections and any updates from the World Health Organisation (WHO) will be relayed from time to time,” he said in a statement here today.

He said the health authorities were screening incoming travellers at the country’s entry points.

He stressed that travellers with symptoms of fever would undergo further examination at a health quarantine centre or screening facility at the entry point.

“”Screening of patients at health clinics and emergency departments at hospitals will also be tightened so as to ensure that suspected cases are handled as per the preventive measures,” he said.

He advised anyone experiencing acute respiratory symptoms within 14 days from returning from Wuhan to go to the nearest health facility for a screening.

“If a suspected case is detected at any health facility, it must be reported without delay to the District Health Office, State Health Office and the Health Ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre. 

“The ministry is also raising capacity on detection and verification tests of the novel coronavirus through the Institute of Medical Research and National Public Health Laboratory,” he added.

Dr Noor Hisham advised the ministry staff to use personal protective equipment and to stock up on it and the necessary drugs at their respective facilities.

On January 12, WHO confirmed that pneumonia clusters in Wuhan were caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus, which had not been identified or detected in humans before. It said it was investigating how the virus was being transmitted.

So far, 41 cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia with one fatality have been reported. Seven of the patients are reported to be in critical condition and the rest stable. – Bernama, January 16, 2020.