PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s status as a polio-free country, declared in October 2000 remains unchanged though a case has been reported in nearby Philippines.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said Malaysia was closely monitoring developments in the Philippines, and will continue with various preventive measures including immunisation programmes.
"The last polio case in Malaysia was recorded in 1992. Our success in eradicating polio follows our National Immunisation Programme 1972 which continues till now.
"The immunisation coverage for polio vaccines from 2014 to 2018 is between 96.7 and 99 per cent.
"To prevent polio, the immunisation coverage must always be more than 95 per cent," he said after chairing the ministry's post-cabinet meeting.
Also present was Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.
The Philippines, which was declared polio-free for 19 years, was reported to be facing the disease again.
A three-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur was diagnosed with a vaccine-derived polio virus Type 2 and a five-year-old from Laguna province south of Manila was confirmed to have polio.
Officials in the Philippines reportedly said the polio virus had also been detected in sewerages in Manila and waterways in the southern Davao region, prompting plans for an immunization drive next month, likely to include tens of thousands of children under the age of five.
Dr Dzulkefly added the ministry continuously monitored children under 15 years old at all its health facilities for any sign of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP).
"If we detect any AFP, two faecal samples will be taken from the child within 14 days of paralysis and sent to the Institute of Medical Research, which is the only laboratory in Malaysia accredited by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to conduct polio detection tests."
He said the ministry also monitored the environment since 2012 by taking samples from selected sewerages.
"Till today, no polio virus has been detected," he added.
Polio is an infectious disease which spreads rapidly. It can cause paralysis and, on rare occasions, can be fatal. There is no cure for polio.
It can only be prevented with multiple doses of polio vaccines that have long been proven safe and effective.
He said the anti-vaccination movement in the Philippines could be the reason why one could now see the emergence of diseases like polio there.
In ensuring Malaysia remained polio-free, Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry has been conducting numerous activities including ensuring polio immunisation coverage remained over 95 per cent especially in Sabah which is the nearest to the Philippines.
"We are also expanding our collection of environmental samples in high risk areas such as settlements for foreigners from countries with polio cases."
The minister urged parents or guardians with children who might have missed any immunisation to get it from the nearest health facility.
On the tuberculosis (TB) case in Penang, Dr Lee reiterated the tests conducted so far indicated TB, but the virus was not active.
It was reported the ministry would conduct an independent investigation into the death of a 19-year-old girl who was diagnosed with tuberculosis.
Carmen Yee, who was supposed to sit for her Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) next month, died at the Penang Hospital on Aug 27, three days after she was admitted.
Dr Lee was reported to have said the independent committee headed by the ministry would be set up within two weeks and results were expected in two months.