Cases of influenza-like, as well as respiratory, illnesses down, says Health DG

Published on 7 May 2020 9:28:14 PM

Cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illnesses (SARI) have reduced since last week, says Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

The Health director-general said that during his daily press conference on the Covid-19 situation on Thursday (May 7), adding that the reduction of these cases indicated that the ministry had managed to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Dr Hisham also said they would get another 50,000 antigen Rapid Test Kits (RTKs), and this would enable them to widen their surveillance of ILI cases at their sentinel clinics.

The Health DG said this when asked about the warning by infectious disease expert Datuk Dr Christopher Lee that cases detected via surveillance were of concern as they imply unlinked community cases, and such cases had increased by 40 in 10 days.

Dr Hisham said for sporadic cases, it is important to act quickly and decisively to contain the cases.

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