10 new TB clusters detected in Malaysia

Malaysia has detected 10 new tuberculosis (TB) clusters across seven states as of last Saturday, with Johor recording the highest number of cases at 37, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said .



The Johor cluster involves 29 children and eight adults.



The first detected case in the cluster was traced to a 72-year-old female religious teacher in Kota Tinggi.



The remaining cases were identified through active testing and contact tracing by Health Ministry officers.



TB is an airborne infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.



It most commonly affects the lungs but can affect almost any tissue or organ in the body.



It can cause permanent lung damage if not treated early. Not everyone who is exposed to TB develops the illness.