UK variant of Covid-19 case detected but contained - Health DG

COVID-19 | A case of Covid-19 variant dubbed "UK B.1.1.7" was detected in Malaysia today involving a traveller with a history of travel to the United Kingdom last month.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said on Facebook that the traveller was found positive for Covid-19 on Dec 28 and had been isolated for further treatment.

“Since October 2020, the Health Ministry has been monitoring all travellers from countries that have reported cases of UK B.1.1.7 variant mutations, including from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, the Philippines and India,” he said.

So far, no contagion in the country had been detected in relation to the UK B.1.1.7 mutation virus, he added. 

A total of 968 samples have been tested since October 2020, and genome sequencing to detect this type of mutation was performed on 24 samples, he said.

Noor Hisham said that the Health Ministry, through the Institute of Medical Research (IMR) and the National Crisis Preparedness and Emergency Response Centre (CPRC), was constantly monitoring the progress of this UK B.1.1.7 mutation and would inform the public from time to time.

He said although the variant did not cause severe symptoms, it could spread easily and quickly.

The Health director-general further advised the public to always practise personal hygiene by washing their hands regularly, wear face masks especially in public places, and maintaining physical distancing at all times.

- Bernama 

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