Haze triggers surge of asthma cases in Malaysia

Asthma cases rose by 259 per cent in the latest epidemiological week amid haze affecting several parts of Malaysia, said Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.



He said the number of asthma cases detected through the Health Ministry’s sentinel surveillance system increased from 61 in epidemiological week 32 to 219 in week 33.



Upper respiratory tract infection cases rose by 124 per cent, from 1,637 to 3,674during the same period.



Conjunctivitis cases, however, fell by 7 per cent, from 157 to 146.



An API reading of 101 to 200 is classified as unhealthy. A reading of 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, while readings above 300 are hazardous.