THE Health Ministry has detected a new cluster of five infections, known as Kuarters, in the Tongod district of Sandakan, Sabah.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the cluster was detected after a staff at a health clinic tested positive on September 4.

The test was done with an Antigen rapid test kit.

The health worker was then referred to hospital for a subsequent test to reconfirm the results.

However, the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test used to confirm the infection yielded negative results.

“Screening of the local community in the Tongod district, including staff of the health clinic, started on September 6,” he said in a statement.

A total of 117 people were screened, of which five have tested positive.

All five positive cases have been admitted to Duchess of Kent Hospital in Sandakan for treatment and the source of infection is being investigated.

The remaining 112 people screened are awaiting their results.

Noor Hisham said the healthcare facility is being sanitised and disinfected, and will resume operations once the process is over.

Patients with appointments at the clinic have been referred to the nearest health clinic. – September 21, 2020.