KUCHING: The Serian area Health office in Sarawak is taking measures to curb hepatitis B in the division, says state Deputy Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Michael Tiang.
He said 99 cases were recorded in Serian in 2022, 223 last year and 76 this year up to October.
"The surge in 2023 was due to one-off active screening," he told Dr Simon Sinang (GPS-Tebedu) during question time in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Friday (Nov 15).
Tiang said a total of 181 women and 221 men were diagnosed with hepatitis B in Serian in the last three years, with the majority over 35 years old.
To address the issue, he said newly-notified cases were investigated thoroughly and close contacts were advised to undergo a screening test.
"Patients and their close contacts also receive one-on-one health education about hepatitis B," he said.
Tiang also said family medicine specialists at the Siburan and Balai Ringin health clinics as well as physicians and paediatricians at Hospital Serian were available to manage patients.
"Hepatitis B immunoglobulin can be given in Hospital Serian to newborns whose mothers are infected as part of vertical transmission prevention," he said.
In addition, Tiang said the Serian Health office gave yearly community health talks to students to raise awareness of hepatitis B.
He said couples planning to register their marriage at the National Registration Department were also advised to undergo screening.
