MyMedR

About two-thirds of the world's population live in areas infested with dengue vectors, mainly Aedes aegypti. All four dengue viruses are circulating, sometimes simultaneously, in most of these areas. It is estimated that up to 80 million persons become infected annually although marked underreporting results in the notification of much smaller figures. Currently dengue is endemic in all continents except Europe and epidemic dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) occurs in Asia, the Americas and some Pacific islands. The incidence of DHF is much greater in the Asian countries than in other regions. In Asian countries the disease continues to affect children predominantly although a marked increase in the number of DHF cases in people over 15 years old has been observed in the Philippines and Malaysia during recent years. In the 1990's DHF has continued to show a higher incidence in South-East Asia, particularly in Viet Nam and Thailand which together account for more than two-thirds of the DHF cases reported in Asia. However, an increase in the number of reported cases has been noted in the Philippines, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, India, Singapore and Sri Lanka during the period 1991-1995 as compared to the preceding 5-year period. In the Americas, the emergence of epidemic DHF occurred in 1981 almost 30 years after its appearance in Asia, and its incidence is showing a marked upward trend. In 1981 Cuba reported the first major outbreak of DHF in the Americas, during which a total of 344,203 cases of dengue were notified, including 10,312 severe cases and 158 deaths. The DHF Cuban epidemic was associated with a strain of dengue-2 virus and it occurred four years after dengue-1 had been introduced in the island causing epidemics of dengue fever. Prior to this event suspected cases of DHF or fatal dengue cases had been reported by five countries but only a few of them fulfilled the WHO criteria for diagnosis of DHF. The outbreak in Cuba is the most important event in the history of dengue in the Americas. Subsequently to it, in every year except 1983, confirmed or suspected cases of DHF have been reported in the Region. The second major outbreak in the Americas occurred in Venezuela in 1989 and since then this country has suffered epidemics of DHF every year. Between 1981 and 1996 a total of 42,246 cases of DHF and 582 deaths were reported by 25 countries in the Americas, 53% of which originated from Venezuela and 24% from Cuba. Colombia, Nicaragua and Mexico have each reported over 1,000 cases during the period 1992-1996. About 74% of the Colombian cases and 97% of the Mexican cases were reported during 1995-1996. A main cause of the emergence of DHF in the Americas was the failure of the hemispheric campaign to eradicate Aedes aegypti. Following a successful period that resulted in the elimination of the mosquito from 18 countries by 1962, the programme began to decline and as a result there was a progressive dissemination of the vector so that by 1997 with the exception of Canada, Chile and Bermuda, all countries in the Americas are infested. Other factors contributing to the emergence/re-emergence of dengue/DHF include the rapid growth and urbanization of populations in Latin America and the Caribbean, and increased travel of persons which facilitates dissemination of dengue viruses. Presently, all four dengue serotypes are circulating in the Americas, thus increasing the risk for DHF in this region.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/statistics & numerical data*

Fulltext An outbreak of BCG related lymphadenitis in Malaysian infants

Hooi LN, Athiyah SO

Med J Malaysia, 1994 Dec;49(4):327-35.

PMID: 7674967

A study was done on 638 infants with BCG related lymphadenitis seen between August 1990 and December 1993. Most infants (86.5%) had developed symptoms by six months after vaccination and the nodes became suppurative in 317. Surgical procedures were carried out in 82 cases and the rest were managed conservatively. The mean duration to resolution was 6.6 months (range 1 to 29 months). This outbreak was related to a change from the Japan to the Pasteur strain of BCG. The incidence remained high ( > 15 per 1000 live births) despite a dose reduction from 0.1 ml to 0.05 ml, but declined when the Japan strain was reintroduced in April 1992.
Study site: Chest Clinic, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

Cross-sectional study of the clinical and microbiological status of eyes of sheep during an infectious keratoconjunctivitis outbreak

Fatimah CT, Mutalib AR, Majid MS

Trop Anim Health Prod, 1994 Nov;26(4):247-50.

PMID: 7900224

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/veterinary*

Indonesia and Vietnam may face AIDS pandemic

AIDS Wkly Plus, 1996 Oct 28.

PMID: 12320487

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

An outbreak of acute hepatic encephalopathy due to severe aflatoxicosis in Malaysia

Lye MS, Ghazali AA, Mohan J, Alwin N, Nair RC

Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1995 Jul;53(1):68-72.

PMID: 7625536

In October 1988, 13 Chinese children died of acute hepatic encephalopathy in the northwestern state of Perak in peninsular Malaysia. The acuteness of the illness differed from previously reported outbreaks described in Kenya, India, and Thailand. Epidemiologic investigations determined that the children had eaten a Chinese noodle, loh see fun, hours before they died. The attack rates among those who had eaten the noodles were significantly higher than those who had not (P < 0.0001). The cases were geographically scattered in six towns in two districts along the route of distribution of the noodle supplied by one factory in Kampar town. Aflatoxins were confirmed in postmortem samples from patients. This outbreak has important public health implications for many developing countries.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

Epidemiological aspects of an outbreak of dengue fever/dengue haemorrhagic fever in Singapore

Goh KT, Ng SK, Chan YC, Lim SJ, Chua EC

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1987 Sep;18(3):295-302.

PMID: 3433161

A nation-wide outbreak of 260 cases of DF/DHF with 1 death occurred in Singapore from Apr-Sept 1986. The outbreak originated from 3 separate foci of transmission at the western, south-eastern and north-eastern parts of the island and then spread to other dengue receptive urban and suburban areas. The morbidity rate was highest in young male Chinese adults between 15 and 24 years of age. The outbreak was rapidly brought under control through destruction of adult Aedes mosquitoes, surveys and source reduction of larval breeding habitats, health education and to a certain extent law enforcement. The Aedes population was high in the main foci of transmission although the overall house index was only 1.1. Other factors which could have precipitated the outbreak included waning herd immunity of the human population and continuous introduction of dengue virus into the country.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

Fulltext Yaws revisited

Gip LS

Med J Malaysia, 1989 Dec;44(4):307-11.

PMID: 2520039

An outbreak of yaws consisting of ten active cases in Baling is described. Yaws should be suspected and considered in the differential diagnosis of sores in the limbs of children living in rural areas. The clinical features of yaws are highlighted to help in the recognition of the condition for those unfamiliar with the condition.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

An epizootic of measles in captive silvered leaf-monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) in Malaysia

Montrey RD, Huxsoll DL, Hildebrandt PK, Booth BW, Arimbalam S

Lab. Anim. Sci., 1980 Aug;30(4 Pt 1):694-7.

PMID: 7421117

An epizootic of measles occurred in a group of 31 silvered leaf-monkeys (Presbytis cristatus) that had been in captivity for 4-12 months. Twenty-four of the monkeys exhibited a maculopapular rash that persisted for 6-9 days. A serous to mucopurulent nasal discharge and conjunctivitis were seen in some animals. Eight monkeys died during the epizootic; however, their deaths could not be directly attributed to measles. Serum samples from the surviving monkeys collected 1-2 months prior to, and 5 weeks after, the epizootic were examined by the complement-fixation and hemagglutination-inhibition tests for antibodies to measles virus. The preepizootic complement-fixation titers were all less than 1:4 and hemagglutination-inhibition titers, less than 1:10. The postepizootic complement-fixation titers in 21 of 23 surviving monkeys ranged from 1:8 to 1:128, and hemagglutination-inhibition titers in 22 of 23 monkeys ranged from 1:40 to 1:80 or greater.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/veterinary*

Fulltext Cholera outbreak in Tumpat, Kelantan-1990

Isa AR, Othman WM, Ishak A

Med J Malaysia, 1990 Sep;45(3):187-93.

PMID: 2152079

Two episodes of El Tor cholera outbreak occurred in Tumpat, Kelantan between the 13th of January and the 16th of May 1990. Every case and carrier reported were investigated to determine the source and mode of transmission and to identify specific preventive measures to break the chain of transmission. There were 109 cases and 85 carriers involved in this study. The first episode of one case only was of Inaba serotype while the second episode was caused by the imported Ogawa serotype. Two foci of spread were identified from cluster occurrence but the majority of infection had no discernible link between them. The outbreak became both explosive and protracted indicating poor basic sanitation and personal hygiene. Person-to-person transmission via food and water was the main mode of spread. The Kelantan river water and river clams were confirmed sources of reservoir during the outbreak. Recommendations for prevention are intensified surveillance throughout the year,urgent upgrading of potable water supply and concerted effort in public health education especially against the use of river water and the consumption of raw food.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

Fulltext Dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever outbreak in Lawas District, Sarawak, East Malaysia

Chang MS, Jute N

Med J Malaysia, 1986 Dec;41(4):310-9.

PMID: 3670153

An outbreak of Dengue and Dengue Harmorrhagic Fever occurred in Lawas District in 1983. A total of 134 cases were notified with 74 cases serologically confirmed. The epidemic which lasted for three months starting from week 20 and peaking in week 24 before being brought under control in week 35 is the first to occur in the district. At the end of the epidemic, 54 localities were affected starting from areas within the vicinity of the town before spreading further inland with the movement of the population.
Entomological investigation in all the infected areas revealed a high density of Aedes albopictus which was the sole vector present. Effective control of the epidemic was achieved through proper planning, active participation of various agencies and intensive outdoor spraying with malathion 2% or ULV concentrates.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

Nipah virus

Wkly. Epidemiol. Rec., 2002 Sep 6;77(36):297-9.

PMID: 12238317

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

An outbreak of rabies in West malaysia in 1970 with unusual laboratory observations

Tan DS, Ariff AW, Mohamed Noordin Keling

Med J Malaya, 1972 Dec;27(2):107-14.

PMID: 4268035

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

Socio-cultural aspects of a cholera epidemic in Trengganu, Malaysia

Chen PC

Trop Geogr Med, 1971 Sep;23(3):296-303.

PMID: 5099001

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

Fulltext COVID-19 outbreak in Malaysia: Actions taken by the Malaysian government

Shah AUM, Safri SNA, Thevadas R, Noordin NK, Rahman AA, Sekawi Z, et al.

Int J Infect Dis, 2020 Aug;97:108-116.

PMID: 32497808 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.093

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel pneumonia disease originating in Wuhan, was confirmed by the World Health Organization on January 12, 2020 before becoming an outbreak in all countries.

OUTBREAK SITUATION: A stringent screening process at all airports in Malaysia was enforced after the first case outside China was reported in Thailand. Up to April 14, 2020, Malaysia had reported two waves of COVID-19 cases, with the first wave ending successfully within less than 2 months. In early March 2020, the second wave occurred, with worrying situations.

ACTIONS TAKEN: The Government of Malaysia enforced a Movement Control Order starting on March 18, 2020 to break the chain of COVID-19. The media actively spread the hashtag #stayhome. Non-governmental organizations, as well as prison inmates, started to produce personal protective equipment for frontliners. Various organizations hosted fundraising events to provide essentials mainly to hospitals. A provisional hospital was set up and collaborations with healthcare service providers were granted, while additional laboratories were assigned to enhance the capabilities of the Ministry of Health.

ECONOMIC DOWNTURN: An initial financial stimulus amounting to RM 20.0 billion was released in February 2020, before the highlighted PRIHATIN Package, amounting to RM 250 billion, was announced. The PRIHATIN Package has provided governmental support to society, covering people of various backgrounds from students and families to business owners.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control

Fulltext Effect of MyMAFI-A Newly Developed Mobile App for Field Investigation of Food Poisoning Outbreak on the Timeliness in Reporting: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Hamzah FH, Mohd Hairon S, Yaacob NM, Musa KI

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019 07 10;16(14).

PMID: 31295907 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16142453

Prompt investigation of food poisoning outbreak are essential, as it usually involves a short incubation period. Utilizing the advancement in mobile technology, a mobile application named MyMAFI (My Mobile Apps for Field Investigation) was developed with the aim to be an alternative and better tool for current practices of field investigation of food poisoning outbreak. A randomized cross-over trial with two arms and two treatment periods was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the newly developed mobile application as compared to the standard paper-based format approach. Thirty-six public health inspectors from all districts in Kelantan participated in this study and they were randomized into two equal sized groups. Group A started the trial as control group using the paper-format investigation form via simulated outbreaks and group B used the mobile application. After a one-month 'washout period', the group was crossed over. The primary outcome measured was the time taken to complete the outbreak investigation. The treatment effects, the period effects and the period-by-treatment interaction were analyzed using Pkcross command in Stata software. There was a significant treatment effect with mean square 21840.5 and its corresponding F statistic 4.47 (p-value = 0.038), which indicated that the mobile application had significantly improve the reporting timeliness. The results also showed that there was a significant period effect (p-value = 0.025); however, the treatment by period interaction was not significant (p-value = 0.830). The newly developed mobile application-MyMAFI-can improve the timeliness in reporting for investigation of food poisoning outbreak.

Matched MeSH terms: Disease Outbreaks*

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