A man in Sabah was found to not have gone through with his tuberculosis (TB) treatment as prescribed, thus exposing the general public to the contagious disease.
He pleaded guilty in court yesterday (Feb 12) and was sentenced to six months in jail, reported The Daily Express.
Given lengthy jail time
The sentence was handed down at the Sandakan Magistrate’s Court by magistrate Yong Ching Hong after 30-year-old Almahzar Madin pleaded guilty to failing to comply with an order under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Madin was charged under Section 12(1) of the Act for exposing the public to the risk of infection through his presence or conduct in any public place.
He was also charged under Section 22(b) of the same Act for failing to comply with a lawful order issued by an authorised health officer requiring him to undergo treatment.
For these offences, he faces a maximum penalty of a RM10,000 fine or up to two years’ imprisonment if convicted.
Following Madin’s guilty plea, the court sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment and instructed him to complete his TB treatment according to the prescribed requirements and duration.
What is TB?
For the uninitiated, tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs, which is caused by a bacterial germ.
What makes TB so concerning is that it’s transmissible via air droplets when the infected person coughs or sneezes.
Common symptoms include coughing (including blood and mucus), chest pains, fever, weight loss, and lethargy.
Active TB treatment typically lasts for six to nine months and patients are often prescribed a regiment of antibiotics that must be followed closely.
Malaysia is currently battling a TB outbreak within its borders, with 10 new clusters being reported across seven states, reported CNA.
According to Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, he said 903 close contacts who went for TB screening were identified, while symptomatic individuals were immediately treated at the Health Ministry facilities as of Feb 7.
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