Kuala lumpur: The public is advised not to panic, but instead undergo immediate screening if they have symptoms or a history of close contact to curb the spread of tuberculosis (TB), which can be fatal if not treated early. Dr Amirul Syafiq Hishamudin, the co-founder of Jauhar Medical Clinic (JMC), said TB is a dangerous infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which usually attacks the lungs (pulmonary TB) but can spread to other organs such as the bones, intestines, and lymph nodes.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, TB spreads through the air, and close contact through sneezing, coughing, or even talking carries a risk of infection. High-risk groups include people with chronic illnesses like diabetes, kidney disease, lung disease, and stroke, as well as individuals with low immunity, such as HIV patients or those undergoing chemotherapy, and children aged five and below.
Dr Amirul explained that TB is divided into latent and active forms, with latent being non-infectious and having no symptoms, while active is infectious and symptomatic. Screening is necessary if someone has had close contact, even though the risk differs from that of a normal individual. Symptoms of the disease include a prolonged cough lasting more than two weeks, coughing up blood, prolonged fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, and drastic weight loss.
If exposed to the disease, contact tracing will be conducted by the government, and screening will be carried out on close contacts. Positive cases can be cured with anti-TB medication that must be taken consistently for at least six months. Treatment failure can lead to multi-drug resistant TB, making treatment more difficult and increasing the risk of complications and fatality.
Dr Amirul advised the public to undergo regular health check-ups, including blood tests and chest X-rays, and seek immediate consultation if they have TB symptoms or have had close contact, especially if a cough lasts more than two weeks. He also recommended avoiding close contact with TB patients until the infection period ends, which is usually two weeks after starting anti-TB treatment or as advised by a doctor throughout the treatment period.
Sharing his experience as a frontliner during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Amirul revealed that he was infected with TB after his immune system weakened and he lost 10 kilogrammes within a month. Both he and his child had to take anti-TB medication daily through the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) method for six months, after which they recovered fully.
The Ministry of Health recorded 503 new tuberculosis cases detected nationwide up to Epidemiological Week 5 of 2026 (ME 5/2026), bringing the total number of cases to 2,571. Sabah recorded the highest number of cases with 614, followed by Selangor (476), Sarawak (257), Johor (233), and Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 202 cases.