Just recently, a 41-year-old Malaysian man who had returned from a meeting in Singapore was diagnosed with the highly virulent 2019-nCov coronavirus. According to reports from Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahman, the man had apparently met with colleagues from China, even one from the epicentre of the virus itself– Wuhan.
Source: Bloomberg
But it is now revealed that the patient had actually traveled to Sungai Buloh and Kelantan with his wife, while carrying possible symptoms with him, during the festive period, reports Sin Chew Daily. The meeting which the patient attended, which was between 16th January 2020 and 23rd January 2020, may have possibly exposed him to the coronavirus.
Source: Coconut
As symptoms at the time were more similar to a common cold or flu after he suffered from a fever and a cough, he visited a private hospital for treatment on 23rd January 2020. After that, it was revealed that the man celebrated the Lunar New Year with his family in his hometown of Sungai Petani, Kedah. They even took a family portrait together.
Source: Imgur
He then traveled to Kelantan to visit his wife’s family, before going back to Sungai Petani to attend a reunion with his friends. The man has since been put under isolation in Sungai Buloh Hospital on 2nd February 2020, after he tested positive for the 2019-nCov coronavirus. It is worth noting that in some cases, the virus itself may lie dormant in the human body and still be able to be spread to other people.
The man is alleged to have been in close contact with no less than 100 people during his time of travel in Malaysia during the Lunar New Year period, and raises concerns as to whether he may have unknowingly infected anyone else with the 2019-nCov coronavirus.
We hope for everyone’s sake that the situation with the coronavirus outbreak improves soon, and that no further patients are diagnosed with the condition! Always remember to adopt good hygiene habits, and wear a mask at all times when out in public spaces!
Also read: M’sian Who Came Back from Wuhan Suspected with Coronavirus Left Sungai Buloh Hospital Unnoticed
