Noor Hisham cites longhouse infections as 'greatest fear in rural areas'

 

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has cited the need to step up public health measures to prevent large outbreaks in rural areas.

Referring to a report of 37 cases in the Pasal Siong cluster in Sarawak, he said on Twitter:

"This is our greatest fear in the rural areas & we need to step up our Public Health measures & Protect the State, District and communities.

"It seems that all the eight longhouses in Pasai Siong and its surrounding areas would be locked down for 14 days."

This came after the emergence of a new cluster, dubbed the Pasai Siong Cluster, was announced by Sibu Disaster Management Committee chairperson Charles Siaw.

Siaw said the new cases were detected through the screening results of a woman who returned to her longhouse Rumah Langi Ambau Douglas from Johor on Dec 29 after attending her father's funeral.

"The case of the woman was announced by the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) on Jan 7," he said at a press conference reported by the Borneo Post.

As a result, all eight longhouses in Pasai Siong and its surrounding areas would be locked down for 14 days.

The eight longhouses affected are Jelian Nayor, Ringgit Unchu, Langi Ambau, Pom Maja, Nyanggai Alok, Jeram Empin, Kelly Chundau and Nyambong Ajon.

Siaw said the patient was now being treated at Sibu Hospital.

Thus far, Sarawak has had 1,196 Covid-19 cases with 19 fatalities, but it is feared that if cases spread uncontained in rural longhouses where large numbers live communally, it will prove harder to contain.

 - Mkini