Malaysia asthma cases surge 259 percent amid haze
Upper respiratory infections rose 124 percent to 3,674 cases, with seven areas recording unhealthy air quality readings.
Malaysia recorded a sharp rise in asthma cases and upper respiratory tract infections amid haze linked to forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said asthma cases rose 259 percent in epidemiological weeks 32 to 33, to 219 from 61 cases. Over the same period, upper respiratory tract infection cases increased 124 percent to 3,674 from 1,637 cases. Seven areas recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings on Sunday morning, with the highest in Serian, Sarawak, at 197, followed by Kuching at 185, Sri Aman at 178, Samarahan at 176, and Sarikei at 128. Sungai Petani in Kedah and Taiping in Perak also recorded 126 each. Residents, especially asthma sufferers, were urged to limit outdoor activities and seek treatment immediately if symptoms appear.
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Earlier in this story
- 1 hour agoKalimantan Selatan wildfire smoke disrupts 12 flights, delays schools
- 8 hours agoPalangka Raya wildfires reach 306 as flames near Balsam Toll
- 8 hours agoForest-fire haze from Indonesia pollutes 7 Sarawak areas
- 9 hours agoMalaysia asthma cases surge 259 percent amid hazereading now
- 37 hours agoPontianak schools shift to online learning as haze thickens
- 40 hours agoWildfire smoke forces Banjarbaru to move classes online
- Aug 224 companies in Kalbar under probe over forest fires, permits at risk
- Aug 22Haze from Kalimantan fires closes 591 schools in Sarawak
- Aug 22Wildfires force 3,524 schools in Kalimantan to shift online
- Aug 22Forest-fire haze halts all flights at Singkawang Airport
- Aug 21Haze in Palangka Raya pushes school start to 08.00