Five B.1.1.7 variant Covid-19 cases in M'sia - Health DG

 

There were two more cases of the UK B.1.1.7 Covid-19 variant found in the country, bringing the total number of cases for the variant to five as of today, said Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said the two new cases were locals with a history of travelling to Poland in March 2021 before they were found positive on March 30.

He said phylogenetic analysis showed the fourth case was infected with the UK B.1.1.7 variant which has significant similarities with a variant from Poland and there was a high probability that the case was infected when the individual was in the country.

However, he said the source of infection for the fifth case could not be determined as analysis showed differences in the variant.

“These (findings of the two cases) also showed that the two cases were infected from different sources,” he said in a statement on Covid-19 development.

Noor Hisham reiterated that the UK B.1.1.7 and South African B.1.351 variants detected in Malaysia could spread quickly as research is still ongoing to study the symptoms and infection effects of the variants.

He advised the public to wash hands frequently, wear face masks in public places, and observe physical distancing at all times.

"The Health Ministry, through the Institute of Medical Research (IMR) and the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), is monitoring the development of mutations in the country which would be announced from time to time,” he said.

- Bernama