Sabah’s silent health threat

Under control: Researchers at Universiti Malaysia Sabah working in a high-containment lab to monitor zoonotic threats.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah could face the next major infectious disease outbreak if nothing is done to strengthen biosurveillance and reduce human-wildlife contact, according to an expert.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Biotechnology Research Institute researcher Prof Dr Vijay Kumar said the state’s environmental richness was its strength and also its greatest vulnerability with emerging infectious diseases.