“The death is not due to Zika”, said Dr Noor Hisham in a short WhatsApp message.
Advertisement
Malaysia yesterday confirmed its first locally transmitted case of Zika infection in a man living in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah.
He stressed that Zika only “causes mild symptoms and signs, not death”.
The condition of the patient – who is also suffering from high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, kidney stones and gout – was serious because of the multiple illnesses, and not primarily due to the Zika infection, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
“The ministry is now investigating the travel history of the patient in the recent period,”said the statement, noting that there is a high possibility that the infection was transmitted locally since the patient has not travelled overseas recently and it was likely he got bitten by an Aedes mosquito carrying Zika”.
On August 27, the patient began feeling feverish and sought treatment at a nearby clinic on August 30, reported The Star.
It has initiated vector control activities, including eliminating Aedes breeding sites, larvaciding and fogging in residential areas and places that the patient had visited.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed the first Zika virus case in Malaysia when a woman from Klang tested positive for the virus after returning from Singapore on Aug 21.
More than 1,400 cases of microcephaly in babies have been linked to Zika in Brazil.
“To date, there have been no reports of confirmed cases of Zika virus among people who attended the Games, both during the games and since their return”, World Health Organization said in a statement.
Advertisement
“We also distribute health advisory pamphlets to tourists and Sabahans on measures to be taken if they experience such symptoms”, she said, adding that the department also advised pregnant women to refrain from visiting affected countries.
