GEORGE TOWN, Sept 4 — The Health Ministry has acknowledged it should release statements on the Zika situation periodically following confusing reports regarding the virus.
Health authorities in Malacca were quoted as saying a family of three in Durian Tunggal had been “quarantined”, pending the results of their urine tests, after they were suspected of having Zika following their recent visit to Singapore.
There has not been a daily briefing since Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam revealed on Thursday the nation’s first Zika patient, who resides in Bandar Botanic, Klang.
“We have released periodical statements for dengue and I think we should do the same with Zika to avoid misinformation and confusion to the people,” deputy director-general of public health Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said yesterday.
“We want the people to know the actual situation.”
Asked if the ministry would have daily media briefings, he said: “Right now, we will just release statements. We will decide later if we will need to meet the press daily.”
Dr Lokman said the three women in Malacca were not quarantined but under observation.
“Perhaps some people have been misinformed by certain quarters. This is what happens when certain sources reveal unverified information,” he said.
He said this after attending the national level “World Breastfeeding Week” at Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Klang MP Charles Santiago said the authorities must do more to reassure the public it was containing and eradicating the virus.
“The authorities must mobilise its public health care machinery and they must be seen doing so,” he said.
“If they want to hold back details for valid reasons, fine ... but don’t use it as an excuse to be complacent. There should not be any secrets when it comes to public health.”
Santiago asked what steps health officials and the Immigration Department had introduced to screen those coming in and out of Singapore.
“The Republic has recorded 215 cases, several of them Malaysians. The nation’s first Zika patient is from Bandar Botanic, Klang, and she got infected after visiting Singapore recently. It can’t get any clearer than that,” he said.
As Zika shared the same vector as dengue, Santiago said, the local councils should inspect homes and construction sites.
“Construction sites have always been major breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes. The local authorities must ensure these sites conform with operating procedures and are free from mosquitoes,” he said.
“The local councils must also repair holes and cracks in badminton courts and other public amenities so they don’t contain water easily. They must also use the right chemicals when fogging.”
Santiago warned that lack of action could potentially see “a minor problem turn into a major headache and even an outbreak”.
