MOH urges public to stay alert during heatwave

The Health Ministry is urging the public to be on alert for heat-related illnesses amid the ongoing heatwave in some parts of the country.

Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said the ministry has recorded five such cases so far including one death.

“Prolonged exposure to hot weather and lack of drinking water can be detrimental to health, especially for high-risk groups such as children, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases.

“Symptoms of diseases caused by extreme heat include headache, exhaustion, inability to concentrate, dizziness, muscle fatigue or cramps and nausea.

“In extreme cases, it may lead to dehydration, confusion, loss of consciousness or coma,” he said in a statement today.

Radzi said the five cases detected so far include two cases of heat cramps and one case of heat exhaustion in Sarawak.

The remaining two cases were recorded in Kelantan - one case of heat exhaustion, and one case of heatstroke leading to death.

Yesterday, two children were reported in the media to have died of heatstroke in Kelantan.

According to the New Straits Times, they were 11-year-old Muhamad Syamil (on Sunday), and 19-month-old Nur Imani Ahmad Farris Fadzlee Mohd Nasir (on Tuesday).

However, Radzi said the Kelantan Health Department’s preliminary investigations found only the 11-year-old had died of heatstroke with severe dehydration.

He said the 19-month-old had died of severe dehydration with underlying sepsis (an organ dysfunction due to an infection), and the death was not due to heatstroke.

Accordingly, the ministry reminds the public to take the following preventive measures during the hot weather, such as:

• Avoid the peak hours of the heatwave, between 11am and 4pm, when planning festivities.

• Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to regulate body temperature.

• Watch for signs of fatigue in infants, children and the elderly as they may be dehydrated without realisation.

• Bathe often, use a fan or air conditioner to cool down. Avoid wearing thick, tight and dark-coloured clothes.

• Limit the amount of time outdoors to avoid exposure to hot weather. Use personal protection such as umbrellas and hats to avoid direct exposure to the heat.

• Seek immediate treatment at the nearest health facility for symptoms of illness related to heat.

Further preventive measures can be found at the ministry’s portal at http://www.myhealth.gov.my/cuaca-panas-a-kesihatan/.

For more information on the heatwave status, visit MetMalaysia’s website.

In the latest of a series of heat advisories, MetMalaysia issued Level 1 warnings for Kubang Pasu (Kedah), Raub (Pahang), Tangkak (Johor), Nabawan (Sabah) and Mukah (Sarawak).

Level 1 is the lowest of level MetMalaysia’s heat advisories. It means maximum daily temperatures have reached between 35°C to 37°C for three consecutive days.

Previously, Energy and Natural Resources Ministry said Malaysia is expected to experience prolonged hot weather until August following the monsoon transition season.

All states will be affected, particularly those on the north and east coasts.

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