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As haze continues to worsen air quality in several parts of Malaysia, the Health Ministry has recorded a sharp increase in respiratory illnesses
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said asthma and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) cases rose significantly from the second to the third week of August.
URTI recorded the highest number of cases at 3,674.
Conjunctivitis cases, however, fell by 7%, dropping from 157 to 146 cases.
Dr Dzulkefly shared the figures after officiating the Wellness Hub Kuala Selangor and the Prosperous Mind Community Outreach Programme (K-Mindset) on Sunday, 23 August.
A view of haze blanketing the Kuala Lumpur skyline in Malaysia on 12 August.
Image via Syaiful Redzuan/Anadolu/AFPBy 6pm on Sunday, 23 August, nine areas across five states had recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings
Serian in Sarawak, recorded the highest reading at 186, followed by Kuching at 176 and Samarahan at 173.
In Selangor, Johan Setia recorded an API reading of 160, while Shah Alam recorded 126 and Kuala Selangor 125.
Sungai Petani in Kedah recorded an API reading of 153, while Taiping, Perak, recorded 115 and Minden, Penang, recorded 106.
An API reading between 0 and 50 indicates good air quality, while 51 to 100 is considered moderate. Readings between 101 and 200 are classified as unhealthy, 201 to 300 as very unhealthy, and readings above 300 as hazardous.
Earlier on Sunday, seven areas had recorded unhealthy API readings as at 8am, with five of them located in Sarawak.
Health authorities have advised people to reduce outdoor activities
The Kedah Health Department has advised the public, particularly residents in Sungai Petani and Alor Setar, to limit outdoor activities due to the haze.
Sungai Petani recorded an unhealthy API reading of 149 as of 10am, while Alor Setar recorded a moderate reading of 94.
High-risk groups, including children, the elderly and people with heart or respiratory conditions, were urged to exercise greater caution when API levels reach unhealthy levels.
The department also advised the public to reduce strenuous outdoor activities, use suitable respiratory protection when necessary, drink sufficient water, avoid smoking and smoky environments, and check the latest API readings before planning outdoor activities.
The worsening haze comes as Indonesia steps up efforts to contain forest and land fires in Kalimantan
Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Raden Datuk Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo said the Indonesian government was monitoring the situation and taking measures to prevent, detect, control and extinguish fires, particularly in fire-prone areas.
Smoke from the fires has reached neighbouring Sarawak, where several areas have recorded unhealthy air quality.
A view of haze blanketing the Kuala Lumpur skyline in Malaysia.
Image via Syaiful Redzuan/Anadolu/AFPMeanwhile, Dr Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry has recorded 90 cases of heat-related illnesses
These included 71 cases of heat exhaustion, 14 cases of heatstroke and five cases of heat cramps.
He said reported cases between epidemiological weeks 30 and 32 ranged between two and three cases each week. However, the latest statistics recorded nine cases, primarily involving heatstroke.
Eight of the heatstroke cases involved participants in the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor, with only one requiring hospitalisation.
Dr Dzulkefly said the situation remained under control and was being closely monitored by the medical task force.
He advised the public to remain vigilant, avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight, and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms.
People use umbrellas and electric fans to cool themselves and shield against the scorching sun in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Image via Syaiful Redzuan/Anadolu/AFP