A TOTAL of 10 tuberculosis (TB) disease clusters were reported to be still active in the country as of February 7.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said Selangor recorded the highest number of clusters, with four involving 10 cases, followed by Johor with one involving 37 cases.
He said other clusters were also reported in Kedah, Kelantan, and Perlis, with two cases each, Pahang with four cases, and Sabah with five.
Dr Dzulkefly explained that for high-risk institutions such as boarding schools, prisons, and workers' dormitories, screening is carried out according to the Tuberculosis Information System Manual (TBIS 2018), which involves identification, assessment, and contact investigation.
"Screening symptoms include prolonged cough, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss; clinical examination of the lungs; lung x-ray examination; and sputum examination, namely sputum microscopy and culture," he said during Minister's Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat, today.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PN-Kuala Langat), who asked for clarification on the latest status of the TB cluster by state and the number of active cases that were still being monitored.
He added that screening measures included checking for symptoms, including prolonged cough, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss, clinical examination of the lungs, as well as sputum examination through microscopy and culture.
In an effort to control the spread of TB, he said that individuals confirmed to have the disease would be given early anti-TB treatment.
He explained that close contacts who were not infected would also be screened to detect TB or latent TB infection and given preventive treatment.
"Treatment is monitored through the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) method on a daily basis at nearby health facilities. People with symptoms are also advised to practice cough etiquette to reduce the risk of transmission," he said.
He added that the Ministry of Health (MOH) would continue to monitor the development of the TB cluster and enhance detection and early treatment efforts to curb the spread of the disease. – February 10, 2026
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