By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, March 18: Sarawak is the third in Malaysia with the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases last year, after Sabah and Selangor.
Deputy Minister of Health Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni said the total number of TB cases registered in 2023 is 26,781 cases, which is an increase of 1,390 cases or 5.47 per cent compared to 25,391 cases in 2022.
“Sabah topped the list with 5,814 cases, followed by Selangor with 5,631 cases and Sarawak with 3,177 cases,” he said during a question-and-answer session in Dewan Negara broadcast live by the Malaysian Parliament via YouTube today.
Lukanisman further said that the highest age group infected with TB cases is between 25 and 34 years old, standing at 4,620 cases.
Meanwhile, 4,485 cases involved those between the ages of 35 and 44.
“Of the 26,781 cases last year, 22,680 involved local citizens while 4,101 were contributed by foreigners.
“Additionally, the total number of drug-resistant TB cases in 2023 was 166 cases compared to 124 in 2013, which is an increase of 42 cases,” he added. — DayakDaily
