Coronavirus & Influenza Outbreak: Is Malaysia Ready for the Worst?

MCA urges the government to begin effecting a nationwide effort to prepare the public against infectious diseases, as well as ramp up efforts to better contain the virus if it hits Malaysia. 

Over the past month, we have read about the outbreak of an unknown strain of coronavirus originating in the city of Wuhan in China that began in December 2019. As the outbreak started spreading across Asia in early 2020, there are now confirmed 440 cases, and 17 of these patients have since succumbed to the mystery virus.

This week alone, we have learnt of confirmed cases very close to home in Thailand and at least one suspected case in the Philippines.

Thermal scanners needed beyond airports
In the shadow of the looming epidemic, I note that Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye is taking evasive action by announcing that his Ministry is already on high alert and that the Health Ministry would soon be announcing special preventive measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, although Malaysia does not even have a suspected case yet. But the government should take heed that installing thermal scanners at airports is not enough; they should not discount the public factor.

There should be an urgent effort to educate the public on the dos and don’ts in the event of an outbreak. Already, there are many cries for visitors from China to be barred from entering Malaysia; and some of these calls are bordering on outright racism. To call Chinese tourists as carriers of disease in the China-Malaysia Cultural and Tourism Year 2020 does not bode well at all. If the public is not well informed enough, we may see distressing instances of Chinese tourists being abused, heckled or even boycotted, resulting in a deterioration of Malaysia’s global image and a possible diplomatic spat.

Monitor vaccine supplies
What is worse is the fact that the recent two weeks has revealed evidence that the organisation of the health services and the MoH is haphazardly disjointed. It took an exposé by major news sources that there is a shortage of flu medication as pharmacies and private clinics across the country are running out of stock of Tamiflu, an antiviral medication for influenza, before the Government announced that 200,000 vaccine doses are being brought into the country to meet the high demand during the flu season. This is far too slow; supply of the flu vaccine should be monitored and instantly replenished in the event of a shortfall, not only when the shelves are finally bare.

Regular updates needed
And also, there is the matter of data dissemination. Over the weekend, Dr Alias Razak, the Terengganu State Exco for Health, Local Government and Housing stated his concern over instructions from the Federal Government to State Governments not to reveal or make public critical data regarding the recent influenza outbreak in Malaysia. There is already the outbreak of the mystery coronavirus that may reach Malaysia any moment now, and regular updates on the influenza situation in Malaysia may help the rakyat decide on how to make preparations and precautions after considering the gravity of the situation, as well as determine no-go zones in the country to minimize the risk of a mass infection.

By only allowing the Federal authorities to announce official updates on outbreaks, we could see slow and inaccurate reporting of infections due to poor communication, or even worse, cover-up attempts by little Napoleons in the ministry. This will lead to a situation where the numbers fail to reflect how grave the situation truly is.

Make influenza a notifiable disease
Perhaps it is time to include influenza amongst Malaysia’s notifiable diseases; most countries including Australia, Hong Kong, India, the UK and also the US, consider most types of influenzas as notifiable diseases.

In summary; the Government’s response to the influenza outbreak in Malaysia and the mystery Wuhan coronavirus has been too slow. Instead of taking steps towards containing a problem only after it occurs, they must think several steps ahead and act in advance.

Dato' Dr. Mah Hang Soon
MCA Deputy President

-MCA online-