 outbreak in the Klang Valley, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa assured the public that the situation is under control and there is no epidemic or outbreak.){kind=link}
Dispelling concerns of a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in the Klang Valley, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa assured the public that the situation is under control and there is no epidemic or outbreak. Speaking at the launch of World AMR Awareness Week 2023 in Putrajaya, Dr Zaliha emphasized that the Health Department is diligently monitoring the spread of TB in the region and urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information that may incite panic.
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The reassurance comes in response to a viral notice from a Klang Valley apartment complex management office, suggesting an outbreak in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Contrary to the claims of over 100 active TB cases, Dr Zaliha affirmed that the disease is effectively managed, and real-time updates can be accessed through the MySejahtera app.
Encouraging individuals displaying TB symptoms to seek treatment, Dr Zaliha highlighted the MySejahtera app’s role in providing information on the total number of cases in different areas. The app’s infectious diseases tracker reports 11 TB cases in Cheras over the past 60 days.
In tandem with the awareness week, Dr Zaliha announced the launch of the Malaysian Health Action Plan for 2022-2026, aligning with the One Health initiative. The initiative, involving multiple disciplines, aims to address complex challenges that impact human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Dr Zaliha stressed the significance of tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a global challenge affecting health, food security, economic development, and pandemic preparedness. She noted that AMR has led to over 1.2 million global deaths, with Malaysia recording 8,700 related deaths since records began.