What specific illnesses are monitored for haze impact?

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Ministry of Health Monitors Three Specific Illnesses for Haze Impact

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is actively monitoring three specific types of illnesses to assess the impact of haze: upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), asthma, and conjunctivitis. These conditions are tracked through a network of sentinel health facilities across the country to gauge any significant changes in case numbers.
Monitoring of Respiratory and Eye Conditions

The MOH's surveillance system focuses on URTI, asthma, and conjunctivitis as key indicators of the health effects of haze. Data is collected from sentinel health facilities, which are strategically chosen to represent broader population trends. This allows for a systematic overview of how air quality changes might be affecting public health.
Declines and Increases Observed in Sarawak

In Sarawak, data from 12 sentinel health clinics revealed a trend in Epidemiological Week (EW) 32. During this period, there was a decrease in both URTI cases, from 1,473 in EW 31 to 1,347 in EW 32, and asthma cases, which fell from 195 to 122. This decline occurred before a noticeable impact from the haze.
Rise in Conjunctivitis Cases in Sarawak

Conversely, the same monitoring period in Sarawak showed an increase in conjunctivitis cases, with numbers rising from 15 in EW 31 to 43 in EW 32. This specific increase indicates a potential vulnerability to eye irritation and inflammation due to haze particles, even as respiratory conditions saw a decrease.

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What specific illnesses are monitored for haze impact?

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