PUTRAJAYA: The number of measles cases have increased by 340 percent (873 cases) compared to the same period in 2015 with only 197 cases.
Health Department director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said, in the first week of June this year, a total of 66 measles outbreaks were reported, which is four to five more cases reported in the same period last year.
In a statement, Dr Noor Hisham said in 2014, there were only 11 reported measles outbreaks and outbreak rose to 57 in 2015.
This year, the majority of outbreaks involving private households are 42 episodes, followed by institutions with 19 episodes and the community with five episodes, he added.
“In 2015, there were 1,318 cases with two deaths recorded but no deaths have been recorded so far this year.
“As for chicken pox, there were 10 outbreak episodes recorded compared to 12 episodes in the same period in 2015 and nine in 2014.
"The majority of the chickenpox episodes this year involve those at institutions (9 episodes) including nurseries, kindergartens, day care centers and detention centers,” he said today.
However, Dr Noor Hisham said the numbers of chickenpox cases reduced 34.7 percent (109 cases) compared to 2015 (167 cases) and 2014 (125 cases).
No deaths due to chicken pox have been reported in the last three years, he added.
Dr Noor Hisham also said the easily contagious measles and chickenpox are preventable through vaccine.
“The viruses are contagious through air and direct contact with the patient, as the chickenpox blisters contains a virus that can infect others.
“Patients with both viruses will typically recover on their own, but there are increased complications involving kids without immunisation.
“The situation can be further aggravated if a child below five years old lacks nutrition or has low immune system with HIV and cancer,” he said.