MOH studied how 7 cases from India contracted Covid-19

Arabell Lawrence Anthony Soon

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Although all tested negative before departure, seven of the 132 individuals deported from India to Malaysia earlier this week later became infected with Covid-19.

All 132 individuals are now placed under quarantine for 21 days for monitoring.

When contacted, Health Ministry director-general Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said the longer quarantine period would allow the ministry to study how the seven cases escaped early detection.

“This new variant, we don’t really know the nature of the virus.

"What we do know is that it spreads quickly with a high mortality rate and may not be detectable at first. So we need a longer quarantine time," he said.

Only Covid-19 negative passengers were allowed on the May 12 flight.

On the specially chartered Malindo Air flight were 117 Malaysians, six dependents, a permanent resident of Malaysia, and eight Bruneians.

Noor Hisham said the ministry had not been able to determine whether the seven positive cases had the possibility of being infected with a worrying variant.

"Samples for full genomic sequencing have been taken and it takes time because we have to culture the virus before full genome sequencing," he said.

India is among the countries worst affected by Covid-19.

Variant B.1.617 is native to East Asian countries and is reported to be more contagious and capable of causing serious illness in those under 50 years of age.

Malaysia previously recorded two cases of the Indian variant.

An Indian national arrived from India last month and tested negative for Covid-19 twice.

However, he later developed severe Covid-19 symptoms and died on April 21st.

The second case was also an individual who arrived in Malaysia on April 10 and then tested positive.

Passenger flights from India have been blocked except for Malaysians and their dependents returning on humanitarian and disaster mission flights.

Everything arriving from India now has to be quarantined for 21 days.