SIBU, Sept 1 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) is monitoring the increase in cases of acute respiratory tract infections (URTI) and conjunctivitis in Sarawak following the haze conditions affecting several areas in the state.

Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said continuous monitoring is being carried out through health facilities including health clinics and hospitals to ensure that any increase in cases related to the haze can be dealt with immediately.

She said based on monitoring by the Sarawak State Health Department (JKN), the average URTI cases increased from about 1,717 cases per week at the beginning of the year to 1,752 cases per week recently.

Conjunctivitis cases have also increased from an average of about 17 to 21 cases per week, while overall asthma activity remains stable at the state level.

"MOH is constantly monitoring the current situation including the trend of patient arrivals at health facilities and we want to ensure that facilities and health workers are prepared in case of an increase in cases due to the haze,” she said.

She said this when met during a visit to the Jalan Oya Health Clinic here today in conjunction with the Borneo Health Tour Series 4, which also focused on the Ministry of Health’s preparedness in dealing with health situations related to haze.

Hanifah said the public, especially at-risk groups such as children, the elderly and individuals with respiratory problems, needed to take precautions when the air quality was at unhealthy levels. — Bernama