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Malaysia worries over return of infectious diseases

The Malaysian health authorities have raised concerns over a comeback of infectious diseases, such as TB, leptospirosis and rabies, which were once put under control in the country.
Malaysia worries over return of infectious diseases ảnh 1Early awareness: A boy looking at the differences between the X-rays of a TB patient and a normal person at the Penang Hospital’s Respiratory Department during the TB and Leprosy Day 2017. (Photo: Bernama)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – The Malaysian healthauthorities have raised concerns over a comeback of infectious diseases, suchas TB, leptospirosis and rabies, which were once put under control in thecountry.

According to statistics from the Health Ministry, there were25,739 cases with TB reported last year, of which 1,945 patients died, a14.7-percent annual increase, compared to 1,696 deaths recorded among 24,220 TBcases in 2015.

Former director of the Institute of Respiratory Medicine AbdulRazak Muttalif said TB cases dropped from more than 30,000 in 1960 to fewerthan 6,000 cases in mid-1980s, but gradually increased again from mid-1990s.

Abdul Razak attributed the comeback to delay in diagnosis and treatment, whichhas led to disease spreading, adding that more cases are being detected becausemore people were screened.

In the case of dengue fever, there were 237 fatalities outof 101,357 cases last year, down from 336 deaths out of 120,836 cases in 2015.

Meanwhile, the incidence of leptospirosis steadily increasedfrom 2,268 cases in 2011 to 8,291 in 2015, falling to 5,284 in 2016. -VNA
VNA
#Malaysian health authorities #infectious diseases in Malaysia #TB in Malaysia #leptospirosis in Malaysia #Malaysia Institute of Respiratory Medicine Malaysia
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