PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) has identified the first local human-to-human transmission of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (pix) said a 40-year-old woman, who is the younger sister to the first local Malaysian man who contracted the virus while on a trip to Singapore, had direct contact with the man when they both returned to Sungai Petani for the Chinese New Year celebrations on Jan 23.
“She started to experience symptoms of fever and sore throat on 1 Feb and cough on the 4 Feb and received treatment at a private clinic. When her brother contracted the virus, the district health office began tracking his family members down,“ he said at a press conference on the latest developments of the 2019-nCoV outbreak today.
He also said the sister did not have any travel history to China, and samples were taken from her and other family members who were in direct contact of the first Malaysian who contracted the virus.
“Her results were reported positive, while other family members were reported negative. She has been placed in an isolation ward in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star and is in a stable condition,“ he added.
