Photo: Reuters
If you’re panicking, thinking you might get infected by the coronavirus…calm down. Malaysia has got a hold on this epidemic.
Infectious disease specialist Datuk Dr Christopher K.C. Lee told Bernama yesterday that Malaysia is more prepared and proactive in containing the novel coronavirus as compared to previous times when we are faced with dangerous infections such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), Nipah virus and Ebola.
“Compared to SARS in 2002, when we took weeks to trace the infections, now we have managed to do so much earlier due to our experience, expertise and the technology employed,” he said.
“We are now in a containment phase, to prevent any local transmission. The seven cases that have been detected were not infected in Malaysia but overseas and imported into the country. It is important that we prevent the infections from spreading within the country,” Dr Lee explained.
In responding to the outbreak, Malaysia has acted swiftly in containing the virus, which includes having more thermal scanners placed at all entry points into the country and isolating coronavirus cases and placing suspected cases under quarantine.
Dr Lee added that on top of having thermal scanners, it is also important to disseminate the correct information to every tourist entering Malaysia, especially those from infected area.
“They (tourists) need to be given information about the virus and actions needed such as seeking treatment at specific hospitals if they do not feel well. This is important because when they entered Malaysia, they may not have had a fever or other symptoms but may have fallen ill several days later,” Dr Lee stressed.
The 2019-nCoV or better known as the coronavirus was first detected in December in Wuhan China, causing symptoms such as fever, cough and breathing difficulties that may lead to pneumonia and in more severe cases, even death.
Malaysia has reported 8 cases of coronavirus so far.
Dr Lee, who has had experience in handling other infectious diseases, claims that the outbreak in affected areas such as Wuhan is happening at a faster rate as compared to previous viruses. The spread of the coronavirus also worsened due to the increase in movement of people within and out of China, especially during the Chinese New Year period.
When asked by Bernama whether the spread of the virus if likely to occur through goods imported from China, Dr Lee said the possibility is unlikely to occur as viruses can only survive in a particular environment for a few hours up to a few days, hence it would be dependent on a case by case basis.
He assures the public that despite not having enough information on the coronavirus, it is believed that similar to SARS and influenza, the virus may not be able to last long in the environment.
By: Siti Farhana Sheikh Yahya
