Pandemic in Malaysia

Assalamualaikum and a very good day I bid to honorable judges, respected teachers
and my fellow friends. In today’s sunny day, via this online platform I am delighted to share
about my topic for today entitled “ Pandemic in Malaysia”. I will share some general
information about Covid-19, HFMD and influenza happened in Malaysia.
Have you ever wonder what is it actually pandemic mean? Well, according to an
online Wikipedia a pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across a
large region, for instance multiple continents or worldwide, affecting a substantial number of
individuals. The word pandemic comes from ancient Greek which is pan (meaning "all") and
demos (meaning "people"), or simply put — all the people. A widespread endemic disease
with a stable number of infected individuals is not a pandemic.
The COVID-19 crisis began with the first three cases of COVID-19 in Malaysia were
imported cases, confirmed on January 25, 2020. Imported cases are defined as infection
acquired from outside Malaysia with reference to the travel history of the individual case.
Malaysian imposed a nationwide lockdown known as the Movement Control Order (MCO),
"Conditional Movement Control Order" (CMCO) standard operating procedures (SOPs) and
"Recovery Movement Control Order" (RMCO). Malaysia announced its intention to
transition to treating COVID-19 as an endemic disease by the end of October 2021, with
more generalised restrictions being eased. Covid 19 has forced school closures and heavily
disrupting the learning process. During this time, distance-learning solutions were
implemented to ensure education continuity, and much of the current debate focuses on how
much students have learnt during school closures.
Next we have the Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease, or commonly known as (HFMD) which
is typically a benign and common self-limiting childhood disease, characterized by rapidly
ulcerating vesicles in the mouth and lesions, usually vesicular, on the hands and feet. It
easily spreads from person to person when someone comes in contact with the body fluids of
an infected person. In other words, (contagious). This can happen by the first one is touching
something that has been sneezed, coughed or drooled on. Second, breathing in air droplets of
the infected person when talking. Third is, touching something that has been soiled with stool
and last but not least is touching body fluid from a draining sore.
It is most common in young children under age 5 years, but teenagers or adults may
also get the virus. Most outbreaks occur in the summer and fall. Symptoms of HFMD usually
go away without treatment in 5 to 7 days. In Malaysia, the first documented outbreak of
HFMD was reported in April 1997. It is a major national health concern and outbreaks
occurring every two to three years since the first outbreak. In 2018, there were 76,776 HFMD
cases in the country with a significant increase in the number of cases compared to 2017.
Based on one online news, Malaysia health authorities have reported a large nationwide
outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in 2022; however and fortunately, they
have reported a declining trend of HFMD until last June 2022.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As Malaysia transitions to the endemic phase of COVID-19, one big question arises –
should we be concerned over the return of influenza? The answer is yes. Influenza,
commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses
and it can be a serious health threat to high-risk groups such as pregnant women, young
children, people with chronic health conditions and the elderly. The flu usually occurs all
year round in Malaysia and occasionally causes outbreaks, some of which can be major.
According to consultant paediatrician and paediatric cardiologist at KPJ Selangor
Specialist Hospital Professor Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, the flu virus is now “making a
tenacious comeback” after having practically vanished when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the
nation. The most effective way to prevent the flu is by getting the annual flu shot. This is
especially important for older persons, as it will help reduce the risk of severe disease and
hospitalisation associated with the disease.
As a conclusion, I myself will always remind and play my part by keep updated with
latest data. Finally, there’s really only one thing you can do, just be strong, be tough, keep
going and do whatever it takes to get out of your current situation and into a better one.
Because, as the saying goes, “Tough times never last. But tough people do.”
That is all from me. Thank you for sparing me your time and lending me your ears.
Wabillahitawfiqwalhidayahwassalamu’alaikumwarahmatullahi wabarakatuh