NO trace of the coronavirus has been detected in Malaysia, said Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.

He said 61 of 267,054 passengers and airline crew members screened at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from January 15 to January 20 recorded high body temperature readings, but showed no link to the virus.

“Sixty-one people were found to have high body temperature readings but a second scan found that the passengers, among them Malaysians, Myanmar and Irish nationals, were suffering from common fever,” he said today.

He said that in that same period, thermal scans were conducted on 258,246 passengers and 8,808 crew members from 2,484 aircraft that landed at KLIA.

Speaking to the media after observing the thermal scanning process in KLIA, employed following the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China, Lee said the rigorous monitoring process was carried out after Chinese health authorities confirmed there was a risk of the virus spreading.

“We have taken steps to improve screening at all entry points to the country and, to date, no such cases have been detected in the country,” he said.

Lee said anyone entering the country has to undergo a thermal scanning process and if found to be unwell or feverish, will be placed at KLIA’s Health Quarantine Centre before being taken to Sg Buloh Hospital for further action.

He said individuals who have travelled to China in the last 14 days and suffering from fever, cold or pneumonia are advised to visit the nearest health care centre, where health officials have been instructed to be on high alert and to take appropriate action.

It was reported that 291 new cases of the coronavirus have been detected in China with six deaths recorded. – Bernama, January 21, 2020.