PUTRAJAYA, Feb 10 — Approximately 2,571 tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported up to Epidemiological Week 5 (ME 5/2026), covering the period from January 1 to February 7, with an incidence rate of 7.5 per 100,000 population.
The Health Ministry (MOH) said the number of cases increased by 229, or 9.8 per cent, to 2,342 compared with 2,342 cases in 2025 for the same period.
TB is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that spreads through the air, especially via close contact with infected individuals.
“The index cases identified at the beginning of the cluster refer to the first identified TB case and serve as the main reference in contact investigation and outbreak control," it said in a statement today.
The MOH added that a TB cluster is an incident involving two or more cases that share epidemiological links in time, place, or contact, indicating the possibility of a common transmission chain.
“TB clusters can occur in households or families, institutions, workplaces, and among close contacts who are not family members.
"A TB cluster is classified as active, which is within the two incubation periods, that is for six months based on the Malaysian Epidemic Management Guidelines 2021," it said.
For 2025, the MOH reported 88 TB clusters in Malaysia involving 254 tuberculosis cases.
Out of the 88 clusters reported in 2025, 35 clusters are still active, including 13 clusters in Selangor with 37 tuberculosis cases.
There were six clusters with 13 cases in Kedah, and five clusters each in Sarawak (27 cases) and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (with 14 cases in total).
“There were three clusters in Johor with seven cases of TB; two clusters in Kelantan with five cases; and one cluster in Terengganu with two cases,” it said.
As of Saturday (February 7), 10 TB clusters were reported, all of which are still active, including four in Selangor with 10 cases and one in Johor with 37 cases.
Meanwhile, Kedah recorded two cases, Kelantan (two), Pahang (four), Perlis (two), and Sabah (five).
"The cluster occurrences of tuberculosis, especially those happening within institutions, require more serious attention because they involve transmission among close contacts outside the family environment, thereby potentially increasing the risk of spreading the infection to a wider community.
"As soon as a cluster is declared, more organised and systematic control actions will be implemented, including the identification and assessment of close contacts, screening among contacts, and the implementation of health promotion related to the prevention and control of tuberculosis for the local population," said the MOH.
In this regard, it advises the public who experience symptoms like a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, or coughing up blood, or who have a history of close contact with TB patients, to seek early examination at the nearest health facility.
"MOH continuously monitors the situation of tuberculosis and strives to improve the delivery of quality services through public detection and treatment," said the ministry.
