Malaysia sees sharp rise in respiratory illnesses as haze affects several areas
Malaysia has recorded a sharp rise in asthma and upper respiratory tract infections amid haze affecting several areas, with cases increasing by 259 per cent and 124 per cent respectively. Several locations also continued to record unhealthy air quality on 24 August.
MALAYSIA: Malaysia is seeing a sharp increase in respiratory illnesses amid haze affecting several parts of the country, with asthma cases rising by 259 per cent and upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) increasing by 124 per cent in the latest epidemiological week.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said monitoring between epidemiological weeks 32 and 33 recorded 219 asthma cases, up from 61, while URTI cases rose from 1,637 to 3,674.
The figures were reported by Bernama after Dzulkefly spoke to reporters in Kuala Selangor on 23 August.
Respiratory cases rise as air quality deteriorates
The increase comes as several areas across Malaysia continue to experience unhealthy air quality.
On 23 August, seven areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings, including five in Sarawak.
Serian recorded 197, followed by Kuching at 185, Sri Aman at 178, Samarahan at 176 and Sarikei at 128. Sungai Petani in Kedah and Taiping in Perak each recorded 126.
The API scale classifies readings from 101 to 200 as unhealthy, while readings from 201 to 300 are considered very unhealthy and those above 300 hazardous.
The latest available readings on 24 August continued to show unhealthy conditions in several locations. APIMS data at 2pm recorded Serian at 196, Kuching at 179, Samarahan at 174, Sri Aman at 156 and Bintulu at 151 in Sarawak. Mukah recorded 114.
Outside Sarawak, Alor Setar in Kedah recorded 152, while Johan Setia in Selangor recorded 160.
Public urged to take precautions
Health authorities have advised people to reduce outdoor activities during periods of unhealthy air quality, particularly children, older people and those with heart or respiratory conditions.
The Kedah State Health Department also advised residents to reduce strenuous outdoor activity, use suitable respiratory protection when necessary, stay hydrated and avoid smoking or areas affected by smoke and pollution.
People were also urged to check the latest API readings before planning outdoor activities.
Conjunctivitis cases, meanwhile, fell by seven per cent during the same monitoring period, from 157 to 146 cases.
Heat-related illnesses also being monitored
The Health Ministry has also recorded 90 cases of heat-related illnesses, comprising 71 cases of heat exhaustion, 14 cases of heatstroke and five cases of heat cramps.
Dzulkefly said nine cases were recorded in the latest epidemiological week, compared with two to three cases in each of the preceding weeks.
Eight of the latest heatstroke cases involved participants in the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor, although only one required further treatment in a hospital ward.
He said the situation remained under control with medical teams continuing to monitor those affected, while urging the public to avoid excessive exposure to sunlight and seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms.
