Sivagangga cluster just about over, says MOH

PUTRAJAYA: The Sivagangga Covid-19 cluster is five days away from being declared closed since no new cases have been detected in 23 days, says the Health Ministry.

The Ministry said the 45 positive cases linked to this cluster have all been discharged after the patients recovered.

“The last two cases linked to the Sivagangga cluster were reported on Aug 9, and both men are third generation cases.

“Until today, the cluster has no new cases for 23 days and will be declared closed if there are no infections after 28 days, ” the ministry posted on its Twitter account @KKMPutrajaya on Wednesday (Sept 2).

The ministry uses 28 days as its benchmark to declare a cluster closed if there are no new cases reported within that period.

A period of 28 days corresponds to two Covid-19 incubation cycles.

The Sivagangga cluster had infected 45 patients in Kedah, Penang and Perlis since it was detected on July 28.

Its index case, patient 8937, is a 57-year-old permanent resident who owns a nasi kandar restaurant in Kubang Pasu, Kedah.

Nezar Mohamed Sabur Batca was sentenced to a total of 20 months’ jail and fined RM12,000 by the Jitra Magistrate’s Court in mid-August after he pleaded guilty to four charges under Section 15(1) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.

There are 13 active clusters in the country as at Sept 1, including the latest which is the Benteng Lahad Datu cluster in Sabah.

The biggest active cluster at present is the Tawar cluster – based in Kedah and Penang – which still has 33 patients currently being treated.

Two patients have died while 40 others have recovered and been discharged.

#COVID19 Semua 45 kes positif dari Kluster PUI Sivagagga telah sembuh dan discaj.

Dua kes terakhir kluster itu dilaporkan pada 9 Ogos lalu dan kedua-duanya lelaki dari generasi ketiga.

Sehingga hari ini, kluster ini tiada kes baharu selama 23 hari dan akan pic.twitter.com/zbIwSSElbT — KKMalaysia (@KKMPutrajaya) September 2, 2020