Migrants to be screened for communicable diseases

BALIK PULAU: Migrants at sea who have been rescued by Malaysian authorities will be screened for health issues before being sent to holding centres.
Health Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said they will be screened for diseases like sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), tuberculosis and leprosy.
He said such diseases have been detected among legal and illegal migrants and action had to be taken to stop the spread.
Hilmi said treatment will be given to those found with the diseases before they are transferred to their destination.
"Those who have been brought in will have to undergo the a health screening process," he told a press conference today.
Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to take action after thousands of migrants, mostly ethnic Rohingyas from Myanmar, were stranded at sea after being abandoned by human smugglers.
They are fleeing sectarian violence in the country which does not recognised them as citizens, resulting them being at the mercy of human smugglers.
Earlier, Hilmi attended the opening of the Penang-level World Health Day celebration, which focused on food safety.
He stressed the importance of food safety and said poor food safety could jeapordise political and economic stability.
He raised the case of the European Union (EU) banning Malaysian seafood products in 2008, which cost the country some RM600 million in losses before the ban was lifted a year later.
He said Malaysia also suffered some RM5 billion in losses when China banned birds' nest products from Malaysia in 2011, with the ban being lifted in 2012 after food regulations were tightened.
Hilmi said food poisoning episodes have been on the rise, with 454 in 2012, 495 in 2013 and 501 in 2014.
"Any food safety crisis has to be given serious attention as the impact will not only be on health but may also temporarily affect food trade, the economy and political stability."