Health Ministry expresses concern about rise in flood-related diseases

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali. – Bernama

GEORGE TOWN: The Health Ministry has expressed concern about the possibility of an increase in cases of flood-related infectious diseases besides Covid-19, following the ongoing floods in several states.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said floods could cause water-borne diseases such as leptospirosis, cholera, diarrhoea, fever, respiratory tract infections, dengue and also food poisoning.

“So far, we have not received reports on cases of dengue, leptospirosis and other water-borne diseases and food poisoning. The situation is currently under control,” he told reporters after officiating at the opening ceremony of the Kek Lok Si Welfare Hospital here Wednesday (Dec 22).

He said the Ministry had also created teams to test the water and food quality at relief centres.

Noor Azmi also said those who wish to contribute food to flood victims housed at temporary flood relief centres were encouraged to contact the Ministry to check the quality of the food and get approval first.

“They can contact the Ministry to get more information about it, this is because we are worried about infectious diseases,” he said.

In addition, he said, the Ministry was concerned about the possibility of the emergence of new Covid-19 clusters in the flooded areas.

According to media reports, a total of 86 Covid-19 cases were detected among flood victims bringing the total number of cases to 267 as of noon Wednesday.

He said some flood victims in Selangor tested positive for categories one and two of Covid-19 virus before they were brought to the relief centres and had been isolated to undergo quarantine at the Covid-19 Low-risk Quarantine and Treatment Centre at the Malaysia Agriculture Expo Park in Serdang, at the designated quarantine area of the relief centres as well as at home. – Bernama

Sehingga jam 3 petang 22 Disember 2021, KKM ingin memaklumkan:

• Jumlah Pusat Perpindahan Sementara (PPS) yang masih beroperasi - 415 PPS;

• Jumlah negeri dilanda banjir - 7 (Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor, N Sembilan, Perak, W Persekutuan K Lumpur & Melaka); pic.twitter.com/h5EHoqexGc — Noor Hisham Abdullah (@DGHisham) December 22, 2021