Health Ministry tracing people in contact with first coronavirus infected M'sian

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has started tracing individuals who were in close contact with the 41-year-old Selangor man who has been identified as the first Malaysian to test positive for the Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said 74 individuals have been identified, with samples already taken from 35 of them.

Of the 35,26 tested negative while the results for the nine others are still pending.

“Subsequently, the 35 have been put under home surveillance and the Health Ministry staff will constantly monitor their condition.

“If they develop any symptoms during surveillance, they will be brought to hospital for isolation, ” said Dr Dzulkefly at a press conference here on Wednesday (Feb 5).

He added that the ministry was continuing to trace other individuals were in close contact with the 41-year-old man.

The man had no previous travel history to China.

However, he travelled to Singapore from Jan 16 to Jan 23 for a business meeting, which was also attended by delegates from China.

On Jan 29, he developed symptoms and sought treatment at a private clinic.

On Feb 3, he tested positive for 2019-nCoV and was brought to the Sungai Buloh hospital for treatment and isolation.