Arrangements underway for child who has recovered from Wuhan virus, to return to China

PUTRAJAYA (Feb 6): Arrangements are underway to enable the four-year-old girl of Chinese citizenship, who recently recovered from the 2019 novel coronavirus infection at Hospital Sultanah Maliha Langkawi, Kedah, to return to China.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said yesterday that the arrangements will be made by the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, and ministry personnel have already engaged in discussions with embassy officials on the matter.

Speaking at a press conference on the coronavirus situation, held at the ministry here, Dr Dzulkefly said he will also be in touch with his counterpart in China to share information as part of measures to address the spread of the virus.

Asked about the treatment provided to the Chinese girl who was discharged from hospital on Feb 4 after test results showed that she was free of the virus, the minister said there was no specific medication or anti-viral drugs that were used.

"Experts have said that the lifespan of the coronavirus depends on the immunity of one's body. It (lifespan) varies like cancer...this breaks the myth or belief that once you get it, you will be in bad shape," he said, adding that through the case involving the little girl, the ministry had proven that complete recovery from the virus was possible.

On Jan 29, the child was reported positive for the infection and had been treated at the hospital's isolation ward.

Meanwhile, asked about the story circulating on social media about an individual who collapsed at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) and was allegedly a positive coronavirus case, Dr Dzulkefly said the ministry had been informed of the incident.

He said the case involved a 17-year-old female Canadian citizen who was taken to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for treatment.

The ministry will be providing updates on the case from time to time, the minister said, explaining that the capacity to conduct tests to detect and confirm coronavirus cases, was limited to the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) and the National Public Health Laboratory (MKAK) in Sungai Buloh.

He added however that personnel from 12 hospital laboratories and four Public Health Laboratories across the country, had been trained by IMR experts recently, using protocols determined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Dr Dzulkefly further said that training for private laboratories which have expressed their interest in the matter, will be conducted by MKAK authorities today.

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Bai Tian, has praised the swift action and professionalism of health authorities in Malaysia in treating Chinese nationals in the country, who have been confirmed positive for coronavirus.

"I want to comment on Malaysia's hospitals for their professionalism and the level of treatment offered to these patients. I have full confidence in the medical response and capability of Malaysia," he told Bernama TV recently.

At the same time, the ambassador said the Chinese government would continue to work with the Malaysian government, particularly the Health Ministry, to jointly address the spread of the virus which has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by WHO.

The virus which was first detected in Wuhan city in the province of Hubei in China in December last year, has spread across the world including Malaysia and Singapore, with 492 deaths recorded so far. In Malaysia, a total of 12 people have been confirmed positive for the virus — three comprise Malaysians, while the rest are Chinese nationals.