SIBU: Public awareness of malaria is still needed despite Sarawak recording zero local transmission of the disease for the past few years, said Sibu Divisional Health Officer Dr Teh Jo Hun.
Despite zero cases for local transmission, there are still imported cases of malaria in the community.
“We still want to create awareness for malaria because we notice that a lot of workers, especially from tropical countries who return (to Sarawak) after working overseas, test positive for malaria.
“So, the danger is not only the disease itself but if they (people who work overseas) go back to the rural areas, they can bring back malaria to Sarawak again,” he told a press conference at the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) here today.
Dr Teh advised locals who work abroad, especially those who are involved in the logging and construction industries, to undergo health screening before they return to Sarawak.
“Last year we had 34 cases of imported malaria in the Sibu division itself which means we detected 34 cases of people coming back from overseas with malaria. So, it is good to raise awareness among people working overseas.
“Besides that, we also have zoonotic malaria which is transmitted from monkeys and other animals. We have 47 cases (zoonotic malaria) in 2022. So, we still want to create awareness that if you fall sick do come and seek medical attention because it could be malaria,” he said.
