PETALING JAYA: Cases of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) rose by nearly 60% to 5,613 in a single reporting week amid worsening haze conditions, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Dzulkefly warned that fine particles in haze, measuring just 2.5 micrometres in diameter — about 40 times thinner than a human hair — could penetrate deep into the respiratory system and cause serious health complications.
He said the latest increase, recorded during epidemiological week 40, followed a sharper rise in week 36, when URTI cases surged by 167% to 7,065.
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During the same period, asthma cases increased by 127% to 1,117, while conjunctivitis cases rose by 83% to 334.
In response, the Health Ministry has stepped up disease surveillance nationwide and strengthened healthcare facilities with additional respiratory treatment equipment.
Dzulkefly said the ministry had been monitoring the three illnesses throughout the year through 78 sentinel healthcare facilities nationwide, with surveillance intensified from Aug 9 following a deterioration in air quality.
“The National Haze Operations Room was activated on Sept 4 to strengthen disease surveillance, response measures and public health preparedness,” he said.
He explained that fine particulate matter released by forest fires, peatland burning and agricultural activities could cause coughing and breathing difficulties. More severe exposure could also contribute to lung inflammation, bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
To prepare for a possible further increase in patients, the ministry has supplied additional medicines and respiratory treatment equipment to healthcare facilities.
The additional equipment includes 841 AeroChamber inhaler spacers for adults, 396 for children and 556 nebulisers, bringing the total to 1,793 units.
Dzulkefly said the ministry was also working closely with the Department of Environment, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to monitor air quality and coordinate public health responses.
On school operations, he said the ministry recommended restricting outdoor activities, including sports and co-curricular programmes, when the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeded 100.
Schools, kindergartens and childcare centres should be closed when API readings exceeded 200, although the final decision rested with the relevant education authorities.
“We provide the advice, but decisions concerning schools remain under the respective education ministries,” he said.
He was responding to concerns over whether the Education Ministry and state education departments consulted health authorities before issuing school closure notices.
Dzulkefly said the ministry maintained regular communication and data-sharing with education authorities to ensure decisions were informed by appropriate public health advice.
He added that healthcare resources were being deployed according to risk levels, with greater attention given to areas identified as haze hotspots.
The ministry would continue monitoring the situation and strengthening its preparedness, particularly in areas experiencing prolonged exposure to unhealthy air, he said.