Browsing: chills

The Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) to tackle Q fever bacteria from imported goats. To protect public health, DOH is rolling out an assessment of risks to human health status. Q fever, attributed to the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, is a disease found in animals that can be transmitted to humans. This collaboration highlights the critical need for joint efforts in managing diseases that affect both humans and animals.

Malaysia has been grappling with an outbreak of leptospirosis. This bacterial infection, although not new to the region, has resurfaced with alarming vigour, raising concerns among health authorities and the general public alike.

In a startling incident in central Oregon, a pet owner has been diagnosed with the bubonic plague, a disease that harks back to the Middle Ages. Health officials believe the resident contracted the rare illness from their symptomatic pet cat, marking a rare occurrence of the plague in modern times.

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded a concerning rise in malaria cases in the Philippines.  From January to September 2023, there were 4,777 reported cases, compared to 3,207 cases during the same period in 2022. This uptick highlights the pressing need for proactive measures and public awareness to address the growing threat of malaria in the country. Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes, continues to pose a significant global health challenge. In a recent media briefing, Dr Jhobert Bernal, the technical supervisor of the National Reference Laboratories for Malaria and Other Parasites, emphasised the crucial role of early detection and accurate diagnosis in preventing malaria transmission within communities. The importance of timely intervention becomes even more apparent as global malaria cases increase to 247 million in 2021, according to data from the World Health Organization.

The alarming statistics from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) for 2022 revealed that pneumonia ranked as the sixth leading cause of death in the country. In a recent discussion, experts underscored the critical importance of vaccination as a proactive measure to reduce the risk of contracting pneumonia. Pneumonia continues to be a significant cause of mortality, particularly among older adults and individuals with chronic diseases.

 Health Minister Dr. Zaliha Mustafa urged the Malaysian public to not panic after rumours of an outbreak became viral on social media. Dr. Zaliha mentioned that several TB cases were detected in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur but emphasised that they were under control.