KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has implemented a number of strategies to control and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said in order to address the increasing incidences of dengue fever, the ministry had implemented various preventative and containment measures including the e-Dengue online-monitoring method, and the Dengue Outbreak Management System (SPWD) to boost surveillance of local dengue outbreak cases.
Dr Subramaniam was responding to DAP Kepong MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw's question in the Dewan Rakyat on the incidences of contagious diseases in the country and the prevention strategies taken.
In addition, the ministry had also improved the Dengue-Free programme and had set up the Evaluation of Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) voluntary unit in areas with concentrated mosquito breeding ground areas.
Dr Subramaniam also said Malaysia’s status is categorised as ‘moderate’ for Tuberculous (TB) diseases, compared to neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.
"The primary strategy for preventing tuberculous diseases is initial detection and treatment of all tuberculosis cases until patients are fully cured.
"Sputum examinations will be performed on patients who show symptoms, while chest x-rays are performed for high-risk groups.
"The diagnosis of TB diseases is also enhanced with the purchases of fluorescent LED microscopes that can improve bacterial sensitivity detection," he said.
Subramaniam noted that dengue fever caused by the Aedes mosquitoes is listed as the highest infectious disease in the country, with a ratio of 328.3 cases per 100,000 population.
He said this was followed by hand, foot and mouth disease (152.25), leptospirosis (17.12), hepatitis B (12.60) and HIV (11.00).