By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad razali
IPOH: The Air Pollutant Index (API) reading in Tasek, Ipoh reached 185 at 11am on Thursday, making it one of the areas recording the highest readings in Perak as the state continues to experience haze.
However, the Perak State Health Department (JKN Perak) said no increase in haze-related illnesses had been reported in the state up to Epidemiological Week 34.
According to JKN Perak, four other air quality monitoring stations also recorded API readings at the moderate level, namely Seri Manjung at 180, Pegoh, Ipoh (160), Taiping (156) and Tanjung Malim (154).
The haze situation in Malaysia, including Perak, has been reported since Aug 8.
JKN Perak said surveillance of haze-related illnesses is conducted throughout the year at national, state and district levels.
It said the surveillance is carried out through haze sentinel facilities operated by the Ministry of Health (MOH), which are selected based on the locations of air quality monitoring stations operated by the Department of Environment (DOE).
“In Perak, the MOH haze sentinel facilities comprise Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB), Ipoh; Simee and Menglembu Health Clinics in Kinta district; Kamunting Health Clinic in Larut, Matang and Selama district; Sitiawan Health Clinic in Manjung district and Tanjung Malim Health Clinic in Muallim district.
“At health clinics, surveillance involves the number of patients presenting with asthma, upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and conjunctivitis.
“At hospitals, surveillance involves the number of acute asthma cases receiving treatment at emergency departments as well as cases requiring admission to wards,” it said.
JKN Perak also said supplies of asthma medication, aerochambers and nebulisers to deal with the haze situation are sufficient.
Meanwhile, the public is advised to reduce outdoor activities and limit physical activities such as sports when API readings reach unhealthy levels.
Those who need to be outdoors, including motorcyclists, outdoor workers and high-risk individuals, are advised to wear face masks such as N95 or P100 respirators.
The public is also advised to wash their face and exposed skin with clean water after coming indoors and to drink sufficient plain water.
High-risk individuals are advised to take their medication according to their doctors’ instructions and be prepared to leave the area if the haze reaches hazardous levels.
Early symptoms associated with haze exposure include an itchy throat, coughing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, sore and watery eyes, a runny nose, frequent sneezing, itchy skin and chest pain.
JKN Perak said it would continue to monitor the haze situation while strengthening the dissemination of health information and advice to the public to reduce the risk of haze-related illnesses.
