Deadly Covid-19 variants might cause a tsunami of new cases in Malaysia

A man getting swab test. (Photo from malaysiakini.com)

Putrajaya, 14 May 2021 - Health Director-General, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah recently told the media that KKM is trying to control the transmission of cases that involves variants from United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, and India.

World Health Organization (WHO) categorizes the four variants as the variants that are 'concerning'.

According to the Dr Noor Hisham, the variants that could be detected in Malaysia are from South Africa ( South Africa variant B.1.351.) and the Covid-19 cases that were caused by this variant were detected in a few states which were Kelantan, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak.

Until today, there are 62 positive cases detected that involve South African B.1.351. variant.

Meanwhile, variant from India (B.1.617) that is detected at the moment involves two cases; and one of the patients passed away.

Regarding Brazil variant, he said, KKM had not yet detected any Covid-19 cases from that variant.

For the record, on 11 January 2021, KKM had detected a Covid-19 case which involved UK variant B.1.1.7 that involved a traveller from Malaysia who had a travelling history to United Kingdom in December 2020 in which he was found positive.