12/05/2026

TUESDAY | MAY 12, 2026

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Risk of hantavirus still low but vigilance is key: Specialist

Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said the alert should serve as a reminder not to take rodent exposure lightly, particularly in unhygienic environments. She said although hantavirus infections are rare, contact with rat droppings, urine, saliva, bites or carcasses could expose people to diseases already endemic in Malaysia. “The probability of getting leptospirosis is higher compared with hantavirus infection.” She said prevention efforts should begin at home, workplaces, food storage areas and rubbish disposal sites, where poor sanitation could encourage rodent infestations. “Clean your home, living area and workplace so that there is no opportunity for rats to breed. “Prevent rat breeding areas, such as rubbish piles, food areas and storage places, especially in residential areas or workplaces.” She also warned against dry sweeping rat droppings, saying contaminated particles could become airborne and inhaled. “Wear a mask, goggles and gloves when cleaning rat droppings, urine, carcasses or saliva. “If there is contact, quickly wash your hands or the exposed area with soap and water. Do not rub your eyes or mouth. “Clean rat droppings by applying bleach for between five and 10 minutes before removing them.” On concerns involving pets, Sharifa said cats do not transmit hantavirus to humans, although rodent carcasses brought indoors should be handled cautiously. “Cats do not transmit hantavirus to humans. What people need to be careful about is if rat carcasses are brought into the house.” Global concern over hantavirus intensified after the World Health Organisation was notified on May 2 of a severe respiratory illness cluster aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. By May 8, eight cases had been reported, including six confirmed infections, two probable cases and three deaths. The vessel carried 147 passengers and crew while 34 passengers had already disembarked, triggering international contact tracing efforts. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Sunday Malaysia remains on full alert despite recording no hantavirus cases involving Malaysians.

o Current concerns tied mainly to imported exposure rather than community spread

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians exposed to hantavirus overseas may unknowingly carry the infection for weeks before symptoms appear, prompting health experts to warn that missed travel history could allow imported cases to slip through despite no local infections being reported so far. Malaysia’s immediate risk remains low but vigilance is critical as the main threat involves travellers arriving from affected regions, said Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre infectious disease specialist Assoc Prof Dr Petrick @ Ramesh K. Periyasamy. “The primary clinical concern is imported cases via travellers arriving from high-risk regions,” he noted. He said doctors could miss suspected cases if assessments focused only on visible symptoms without probing recent travel, contact with rodent-contaminated environments or cruise exposure. “The incubation period is typically between one and seven weeks, with a median of between 14 and 17 days.” He also said while hantaviruses are traditionally spread through exposure to aerosolised rodent urine, droppings or saliva, the strain linked to the recent international cluster warrants greater concern because of its rare ability to spread between humans. Petrick said the virus attacks the lining of blood vessels, potentially triggering fluid leakage that could lead to severe lung or kidney complications in critical cases. Nevertheless, he stressed that the risk of local transmission remains controlled as current concerns are tied mainly to imported exposure rather than community spread. Meanwhile, university public health expert and School of Liberal Studies dean Prof Dr

Teresa Kok’s former special assistant claims trial in corruption case KUALA LUMPUR: A former special assistant to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok was charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with two counts involving fraud and the acceptance of a RM500,000 bribe linked to the procurement of smart boards in 2024. Edmund Teoh, 40, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Judge Suzana Hussin. On the first count, Teoh is accused of deceiving Kok, 62, into believing that only two schools in the Seputeh parliamentary constituency had applied for contributions under the Interactive Smart Board initiative, despite allegedly knowing that 16 schools had submitted applications. The alleged deception is said to have induced Kok to approve the application through the MyKhas system under the Seputeh Parliament People-Friendly Project, consent she would not have granted had she not been deceived. Teoh is accused of committing the offence at the Seputeh MP Service Centre office in Sri Desa Entrepreneurs Park, Jalan 1/116B, off Jalan Kuchai Lama here in June 2024. The charge is framed under Section 417 of the Penal Code and carries up to five years’ jail, a fine, or both upon conviction. For the second charge, Teoh is alleged to have received a RM500,000 cash bribe from a 37-year-old man at the parking area of a petrol station in Jalan Kuchai Maju, Kuchai Lama on Aug 12, 2024. The bribe was allegedly inducement to assist the man in securing donations for the supply of interactive smart boards and related equipment to 16 schools within the parliamentary constituency through TMT IT Solutions, a company owned by the man’s wife. The charge is brought under Section 16(a)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 and is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which provides for up to 20 years’ jail and a minimum fine of five times the value of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. DPP Julaila Jamaludin offered bail at RM150,000 in one surety, with additional conditions requiring Teoh to surrender his passport to the court. She also requested that Teoh report to the MACC office nearest to his residence once a month and refrain from interfering with prosecution witnesses, either directly or through third parties. Defence counsel M.N. Lo appealed for a lower bail amount, saying his client earns between RM3,000 and RM4,000 a month while also supporting a school-going child. “My client has cooperated fully throughout the investigation and has reported to the MACC office eight times without fail.” Suzana set bail at RM60,000 in one surety, with the additional conditions requested by the prosecution, and fixed July 3 for mention. – Bernama