THE Ministry of Health (MOH) has activated contingency plans across all its facilities in anticipation of a potential rise in influenza cases, Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed today.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament, he said Emergency and Trauma Departments at MOH hospitals have already implemented separate entry pathways for infectious and non-infectious patients to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and hospital-acquired infections.
“We have initiated our Hospital Disaster Plan, which includes setting up disaster zones, expanding bed capacity and mobilising internal staff. These are proactive, pre-emptive measures to ensure readiness for any sudden increase in cases, though we hope it will not happen,” he said.
Addressing the Dewan Rakyat during Minister’s Question Time, Dr Dzulkefly noted that there is no universal vaccine for influenza, due to the virus’s frequent mutations.
He explained that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conduct global surveillance annually to identify dominant circulating strains. New quadrivalent vaccines are then developed to offer broader protection.
The minister also clarified that laboratory testing is not routinely carried out for all Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) cases, as most are mild and can be diagnosed based on symptoms alone.
“Clinical diagnosis is sufficient based on symptoms, and lab tests would not change the treatment given,” he said.
However, he stressed that high-risk groups — including the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those showing severe symptoms — would receive appropriate treatment, including antiviral prophylaxis where necessary.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN–Kuala Langat) regarding the availability of antivirals and national influenza vaccination efforts. - October 16, 2025
