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Ten new tuberculosis (TB) clusters have been identified in Malaysia so far this year, all of which remain active as of 7 February, the Dewan Rakyat was told
According to Malay Mail, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said Selangor led with four clusters, while the largest cluster was detected in Johor involving 37 cases.
Here are the TB cases detected in 2026 by state:
– Johor: 37 cases (1 cluster)
– Selangor: 10 cases (4 clusters)
– Sabah: 5 cases (1 cluster)
– Pahang: 4 cases (1 cluster)
– Kedah: 2 cases (1 cluster)
– Kelantan: 2 cases (1 cluster)
– Perlis: 2 cases (1 cluster)
He was responding to Kuala Langat MP Datuk Ahmad Yunus Hairi, who requested an update on the country's TB cases and measures being taken to prevent its spread
Dr Dzulkefly said the Ministry of Health is prioritising immediate anti-TB treatment for confirmed patients, as well as screening and preventive treatment for close contacts. This includes daily monitoring through Directly Observed Therapy (DOT), where trained health workers observe patients taking every dose of medication.
He added that Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination protecting newborns against tuberculosis remains high, with coverage at around 99% under the National Immunisation Programme.
However, he cautioned about latent TB, where the bacteria remains inactive in a person's body but can develop into active, infectious disease if the immune system weakens, and detection is harder.
"Tuberculosis can be everywhere. We may have been exposed to it and the bacteria may already be in our body, but it is latent. When our immunity drops, the bacteria can flare up," he said.
"But that said we have taken active measures and we will continue with these measures (to prevent further spreading)," he added.
Dr Dzulkefly said screenings are carried out at high-risk settings such as boarding schools, prisons, and workers' hostels, involving symptom screening, clinical assessments, chest X-rays, and sputum testing.
Ten new tuberculosis (TB) clusters have been detected in seven states as of last Saturday, with Johor recording the highest number at 37 cases#BernamaNews #BernamaInfographics #tuberculosis #Johor pic.twitter.com/7EVRNmCUGk
— BERNAMA (@bernamadotcom) February 10, 2026
Dr Dzulkefly said the Johor cluster should serve as a wake-up call for the country
The cluster involved a 72-year-old religious teacher, resulting in 903 close contacts identified and screened.
Among them, 36 TB cases were detected — 29 children and eight adults — and all patients are currently under monitoring and treatment.
Locals seen leaving the Bandar Mas health clinic in Kota Tinggi, Johor.
Image via Bernama/New Straits TimesTuberculosis is a serious infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs but can also damage other organs
While it is treatable and curable with a six-month course of antibiotics, untreated active TB carries a high risk of death.
The disease spreads through the air, particularly in crowded or poorly ventilated environments. Common symptoms include prolonged cough, coughing up blood, fever, chest pain, night sweats, and significant weight loss.
In Malaysia, where TB remains endemic, the BCG vaccine is mandatory to all newborns. It is usually administered at birth on the upper left arm, often leaving a small permanent scar.
In addition to vaccination, the public is advised to wear masks, practise good hand hygiene, and seek medical attention if they develop a persistent cough to reduce the risk of transmission.
