KUALA LUMPUR — Health authorities have stepped up containment measures in Pengerang, Kota Tinggi, Johor following confirmation of a tuberculosis (TB) cluster involving 33 cases detected from 804 close contacts screened.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed the cluster on February 6, 2026. The Health Ministry (KKM) said the outbreak originated from an index case involving a 71-year-old woman with underlying diabetes mellitus who sought treatment for a prolonged cough at a nearby clinic.
After the first case was confirmed on January 25, 2026, KKM launched active case detection and contact tracing in line with the National Strategic Plan to End TB (2021–2030). Screening of close contacts at nearby health clinics led to the identification of additional epidemiologically linked cases and the classification of the situation as a TB cluster.
“All identified close contacts were screened at nearby health facilities, while confirmed cases were immediately started on anti-TB treatment and placed under continuous clinical monitoring,” KKM said in a written response to Scoop.
The ministry added that local health facilities had sufficient capacity to conduct screenings and follow-up care without disruption.
Patients who test positive are required to undergo a minimum of six months of treatment and are monitored daily through Directly Observed Therapy (DOT), which ensures adherence, effective disease control and reduced transmission risk.
KKM also warned that individuals with chronic conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes or weakened immune systems, particularly those living with HIV, face a higher risk of TB and should seek early screening if symptoms appear.
On preparedness for future outbreaks, the ministry said TB remains endemic in Malaysia but is managed through an electronic surveillance system that supports case reporting, contact tracing, treatment monitoring and public health interventions.
“This system supports timely detection, prevention, and control of TB transmission,” the ministry said, adding that TB is a notifiable disease under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342).
Dr Shanmuganathan T.V. Ganeson, President of the Federation of Private Medical Practitioners Associations Malaysia (FPMPAM), said TB symptoms are often misunderstood by patients.
“From a medical perspective, besides the classic prolonged cough, symptoms can include fatigue, low-grade evening fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, or reduced appetite,” he said, noting that many people dismiss these signs as common viral infections or stress-related illness.
“TB transmission typically requires prolonged, close, indoor exposure and is not spread through brief casual contact,” he explained. He added that transmission mainly involves active pulmonary TB, as seen in the Pengerang cluster, while extra-pulmonary TB affecting lymph nodes, bones or other organs is generally non-infectious.
For active pulmonary TB, he said risks can be reduced through good ventilation, avoiding overcrowding, early screening of symptomatic individuals, prompt treatment of confirmed cases, preventive therapy for close contacts and proper respiratory hygiene.
Both KKM and FPMPAM stressed that completing the full course of treatment is critical, even when symptoms improve. Incomplete treatment, they warned, can lead to relapse and the development of drug-resistant TB, which is significantly more difficult to manage.
“Overall, TB is a well-known and treatable disease. Early detection, proper treatment, and clear public health communication remain the cornerstones of control,” Dr Shanmuganathan said, urging the public not to avoid screening or treatment because of stigma or fear.
Health authorities continue to advise anyone with a persistent cough or those who have had close contact with TB patients to seek immediate screening, stressing that early diagnosis remains the most effective way to protect individuals and the wider community. — February 9, 2026
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