JOHOR BARU: The Health Ministry (MOH) has confirmed the emergence of a tuberculosis (TB) cluster in Kota Tinggi on Jan 25, with 33 positive cases detected following screening of 804 close contacts as of yesterday (Feb 4).
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said MOH teams are currently on the ground and taking aggressive measures to curb the spread of the outbreak.
"All patients who tested positive have received treatment and are being closely monitored by the MOH,” he said in a post on X late last night.
Dzulkefly said one death was reported in the cluster, but confirmed that it was not caused by TB infection.
He said the MOH remains on high alert, with active case detection efforts to be continued to ensure the safety of the local community.
Dzulkefly also urged residents in the surrounding areas who are experiencing symptoms such as a persistent cough, fever or night sweats to undergo health screening immediately and not wait until their condition worsens.
He also advised the public not to spread false information that could trigger panic.
TB is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is transmitted through the air to nearby close contacts.
Symptoms of TB include a persistent cough, significant weight loss, loss of appetite, night sweats and coughing up blood.
TB is preventable and fully curable through effective treatment, with a minimum treatment period of six months. - Bernama
