Haze: Sarawak Intensifies Monitoring Following Increase In URTI & Conjunctivitis Cases
SIBU: Monitoring of haze-related illnesses in Sarawak has been enhanced following an increase in cases of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and conjunctivitis as air quality across the state has deteriorated since early August.
Deputy Health Minister Dato Hanifah Hajar Taib said monitoring at 15 sentinel health facilities throughout Sarawak showed the average number of URTI cases had risen from about 1,717 a week at the beginning of the year to 1,752 a week in recent weeks.
“Conjunctivitis cases also recorded an increasing trend from about 17 cases per week to 21 cases per week during the same period.
“Special attention was given to URTI cases which increased sharply in mid-August, with the Southern Zone recording about 1,250 cases, the Central Zone exceeding 1,000 cases and the Northern Zone recording a peak of close to 400 cases,” she said.
She said this when met by reporters in conjunction with an official visit to the Jalan Oya Health Clinic, here on Tuesday.
Commenting further, the Mukah Member of Parliament said from January to the end of August 2026, about 694,800 patient visits were recorded at the sentinel facilities, including 64,688 URTI cases and 6,156 asthma cases.
According to her, although the number of asthma patients seeking treatment at the Sarawak General Hospital Emergency and Trauma Department rose on several days in August, overall monitoring indicated that asthma cases statewide remained generally stable, with no significant sustained increase.
Dato Hanifah also shared that the Sarawak State Health Department (JKNS) is currently enhancing monitoring of haze-related illnesses to enable the public health situation to be monitored more effectively.
“This is also to reinforce medical services and ensure adequate supplies of medicines and equipment, as well as sufficient healthcare personnel at hospitals and health clinics,” she said.
Meanwhile, continuous monitoring will be carried out to identify any changes in haze-related illness trends and enable appropriate action to be taken immediately. -UKASnews
