No anthrax cases in Malaysia to date, Vet Dept urges vigilance after deadly outbreak in Thailand
PUTRAJAYA, May 11 — Malaysia has remained free of anthrax since the last reported case to the World Organisation for Animal Health in 1976.
In a statement today, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) confirmed that no cases of anthrax have been reported in the country to date.
DVS noted that it takes the recent anthrax outbreak in Thailand seriously, particularly following the confirmation of a human fatality due to anthrax infection on May 1, as reported by Thailand's Department of Disease Control.
The case was linked to cattle slaughtering and consuming raw beef in Don Tan District, Mukdahan Province, northeastern Thailand, which borders the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
'At present, we remain vigilant and have requested assurance from the Thai authorities that no animals or animal products from high-risk anthrax areas are being exported to Malaysia,' the statement read.
The department explained that anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, a zoonotic disease, i.e., an animal disease that can infect humans and may be fatal.
'This disease can infect livestock and humans through direct contact with spores produced by Bacillus anthracis.
'It can cause a high mortality rate among livestock. Common clinical signs in animals include high fever, which may cause sudden death,' it said.
DVS urged livestock farmers to immediately make a report if they detect any of these symptoms in their animals.
'The department has also requested that Thai authorities provide updates on the current situation, measures taken to control the movement of animals and animal products within Thailand, and their contingency plan for managing the outbreak.
'Malaysia imports live cattle and buffalo from Thailand, and all livestock entering the country must undergo strict veterinary inspections before being allowed in,' read the statement.
As a precautionary measure, the DVS continues to carry out control and prevention activities to ensure Malaysia remains free of anthrax.
'DVS advises and urges livestock farmers to enhance farm biosecurity, especially in preparation for the upcoming Hari Raya Korban celebrations.
'The health status of all new livestock brought onto farms must be verified through inspections by certified veterinary officers and accompanied by valid livestock transfer permits.
'DVS calls on all stakeholders, especially livestock farmers, to stay informed on the latest developments concerning animal disease outbreaks and to immediately report any clinical signs of disease in their animals,' the statement added. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Involve nurses in duty roster to lower burnout, say private hospitals
The Malayan Nurses Union said nurses in public hospitals were already under immense pressure and that an increase in working hours will exacerbate this. PETALING JAYA : The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) has offered its insights on preventing nurses from burning out, as the health ministry moves to implement a 45-hour work week for ward nurses in government hospitals from Aug 1. APHM said private hospitals had structured schedules designed to ensure both effective patient care and staff wellbeing, with nurses typically working between 42 to 45 hours a week, depending on unit and service needs. APHM president Dr Kuljit Singh said the private healthcare sector also involved nurses in scheduling decisions, adding that studies have shown this improved job satisfaction and lowered the burnout rate. Kuljit said private hospitals set up their schedules to ensure 24-hour coverage while allowing nurses adequate rest and time off, as well as accommodating their shift preferences and input into the roster. 'These hours are not arbitrary mandates, but are carefully crafted based on departmental demands, patient acuity and workload to ensure nurses are neither overworked nor underutilised,' he said in a statement. While government hospitals have higher patient loads, Kuljit said they had a significantly larger pool of nursing staff than private hospitals. This comes after the health ministry was given a 'final' two-month extension for the implementation of the 45-hour work week for ward nurses. The Malayan Nurses Union (MNU) protested the decision, saying nurses in public hospitals were already under immense pressure and that an increase in hours will make matters worse. 'In the government sector, nurses work on rotating shifts, that is morning, evening, and night, and the roster is not fixed,' MNU president Saaidah Athman told FMT. 'Schedules often change and sometimes, even when they are on official leave, nurses are called back to work based on the needs of the unit.' Despite the larger pool of nurses in public hospitals, Saaidah said many were already taking on extra duties without additional support, with some even forced to delay going to the toilet because of the number of tasks. 'When on double duty, they assist in patient transfers, support procedures, managing documentation, providing medications, and following doctors on rounds. Sometimes they end up working up to 14 hours a day. 'If a single shift becomes eight hours, double duty becomes 16 hours. There's no shift allowance, no meal allowance, no transport allowance. How can nurses not feel burned out?'
Free Malaysia Today
12 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Private hospitals to supply clinical data for diagnosis pricing system
The Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia pointed out that the process of gathering and analysing clinical data is complex and time-consuming. (Envato Elements pic) PETALING JAYA : Members of the Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) have offered to share with the health and finance ministries relevant clinical data for the implementation of the diagnosis-related group (DRG) pricing system. In a statement, APHM said for the DRG or any DRG-type mechanism to work, accurate clinical data and a national electronic health record system was needed. 'As the process of gathering and analysing such data is complex and time-consuming, APHM anticipates that a proper rollout will require considerably more than six months. 'To support this national initiative, APHM member hospitals have offered to share relevant clinical data required for the set up of a DRG system with the ministries,' it said. The association added that adequate time and resources must be allocated to ensure that the DRG initiative is thoroughly conceptualised, piloted, and implemented, to ultimately deliver sustainable improvements for all Malaysians. Earlier today, health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the DRG pricing system – to standardise the costs for certain groups of patients according to their ailments and encourages cost containment initiatives – would be a key driver for value-based healthcare. The initiative, targeted to be rolled out by the end of the year, aims to provide fairer pricing for those with pre-existing conditions, especially with Malaysia becoming an ageing nation where the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) is high. According to Dzulkefly, the government's introduction of a basic medical and health insurance and takaful (MHIT) product marks the first step in the phased implementation of the DRG pricing system. He said the product would broaden private sector financing options and steer private healthcare towards a value-based healthcare model.
Free Malaysia Today
13 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Cabinet to decide on cannabis-linked vape production by US firm, says Dzulkefly
According to an investor presentation in Las Vegas in April, Ispire Technology Inc produces 'mainly cannabis-related products' in its Malaysian manufacturing facility. (LinkedIn pic) KUALA LUMPUR : The fate of a US-based vape manufacturer producing cannabis-related products in Malaysia will be decided by the Cabinet, says health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. Speaking on the sidelines of the APHM International Healthcare Conference & Exhibition 2025, Dzulkefly said the issue involving Ispire Technology Inc would require the input of several ministries and government agencies. 'I will have to present (the matter) to the Cabinet. From there, we will decide on a stance. 'Several bodies are involved in this issue such as the investment, trade and industry ministry, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, and the domestic trade and cost of living ministry,' he told reporters. Health think tank CodeBlue recently reported that Ispire, which produces nicotine and cannabis-related vaping products, had said that its devices were used by clients to fill cartridges with cannabis oils in global markets. According to an investor presentation in Las Vegas in April published on YouTube on May 6, Ispire produces 'mainly cannabis-related products' in its Malaysian manufacturing facility, which has up to seven production lines. In a statement last week, the health ministry confirmed that the government had issued Ispire an interim nicotine manufacturing licence to produce e-cigarettes with nicotine in its plant in Johor, together with local council approval. However, CodeBlue noted that the ministry's June 2 statement did not mention the plant's production of cannabis vaporisers, which reportedly began in February 2024. On June 5, Kuala Langat MP Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi called for a police investigation into the vape factory's operations. GP consultation fee revision Separately, Dzulkefly said his ministry had submitted its plans to the National Action Council on Cost of Living to address the long-standing issue of revising general practitioner (GP) consultation fees. 'The council has requested that the matter be brought to its executive committee, which is chaired by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. 'There is no fixed date for discussions yet, but it will be soon,' he added. Yesterday, the Medical Practitioners Coalition Association of Malaysia (MPCAM) warned the government against deregulating GP consultation fees without setting a minimum rate. MPCAM president Dr Soo Tai Kang said such a move would lead to unhealthy competition in the industry, particularly in urban areas where 80% of GP clinics operate and depend heavily on panel patients. Soo said MPCAM supported setting consultation fees at between RM50 and RM80, with reviews every three years. On June 5, the Malaysian Medical Association called on the government to approve a long-pending increase in GP consultation fees, warning that delays threatened the survival of primary care clinics nationwide. Dzulkefly said on May 3 that the matter would be resolved 'within one month', and that a Cabinet memorandum and circular had already been prepared.
