Pandemic in Malaysia

Assalamualaikum and a very good day I bid to honorable judges,

respected teachers and my fellow friends. In today’s sunny day, via this online
platform I am delighted to share about my topic for today entitled “ Pandemic in
Malaysia”. I will share some general information about Covid-19, HFMD and
influenza happened in Malaysia.
Have you ever wonder what is it actually pandemic mean? Well,
according to an online Wikipedia a pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious
disease that has spread across a large region, for instance multiple continents or
worldwide, affecting a substantial number of individuals. The word pandemic
comes from ancient Greek which is pan (meaning "all") and demos (meaning
"people"), or simply put — all the people. A widespread endemic disease with a
stable number of infected individuals is not a pandemic.
The COVID-19 crisis began with the first three cases of COVID-19 in
Malaysia were imported cases, confirmed on January 25, 2020. Imported cases
are defined as infection acquired from outside Malaysia with reference to the
travel history of the individual case. Malaysian imposed a nationwide lockdown
known as the Movement Control Order (MCO), "Conditional Movement
Control Order" (CMCO) standard operating procedures (SOPs) and "Recovery
Movement Control Order" (RMCO). Malaysia announced its intention to
transition to treating COVID-19 as an endemic disease by the end of October
2021, with more generalised restrictions being eased. Covid 19 has forced
school closures and heavily disrupting the learning process. During this time,
distance-learning solutions were implemented to ensure education continuity,
and much of the current debate focuses on how much students have learnt
during school closures.
Next we have the Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease, or commonly known as
(HFMD) which is typically a benign and common self-limiting childhood
disease, characterized by rapidly ulcerating vesicles in the mouth and lesions,
usually vesicular, on the hands and feet. It easily spreads from person to person
when someone comes in contact with the body fluids of an infected person. In
other words, (contagious). This can happen by the first one is touching
something that has been sneezed, coughed or drooled on. Second, breathing in
air droplets of the infected person when talking. Third is, touching something
that has been soiled with stool and last but not least is touching body fluid from
a draining sore.
 It is most common in young children under age 5 years, but teenagers or
adults may also get the virus. Most outbreaks occur in the summer and fall.
Symptoms of HFMD usually go away without treatment in 5 to 7 days. In
Malaysia, the first documented outbreak of HFMD was reported in April 1997.
It is a major national health concern and outbreaks occurring every two to three
years since the first outbreak. In 2018, there were 76,776 HFMD cases in the
country with a significant increase in the number of cases compared to 2017.
Based on one online news, Malaysia health authorities have reported a large
nationwide outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in 2022;
however and fortunately, they have reported a declining trend of HFMD until
last June 2022.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As Malaysia transitions to the endemic phase of COVID-19, one big
question arises – should we be concerned over the return of influenza? The
answer is yes. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious
respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses and it can be a serious health
threat to high-risk groups such as pregnant women, young children, people with
chronic health conditions and the elderly. The flu usually occurs all year round
in Malaysia and occasionally causes outbreaks, some of which can be major.
According to consultant paediatrician and paediatric cardiologist at KPJ
Selangor Specialist Hospital Professor Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, the flu virus is
now “making a tenacious comeback” after having practically vanished when the
COVID-19 pandemic hit the nation. The most effective way to prevent the flu is
by getting the annual flu shot. This is especially important for older persons, as
it will help reduce the risk of severe disease and hospitalisation associated with
the disease.
As a conclusion, I myself will always remind and play my part by keep
updated with latest data. Finally, there’s really only one thing you can do, just
be strong, be tough, keep going and do whatever it takes to get out of your
current situation and into a better one. Because, as the saying goes, “Tough
times never last. But tough people do.”

That is all from me. Thank you for sparing me your time and lending me your
ears.
Wabillahitawfiqwalhidayahwassalamu’alaikumwarahmatullahi wabarakatuh