Malaysia sees spike in asthma, URTI cases amid worsening haze, says official

NAMPA / Xinhua

2026-08-23

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- A sharp increase in asthma and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) cases has been recorded amid haze conditions affecting several areas in the country, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said on Sunday. Ongoing monitoring has shown that asthma cases increased by 259 percent, while URTI cases rose by 124 percent during epidemiological weeks (EW) 32 and 33 (from Aug. 9 to Aug. 22), Dzulkefly told a press brief......

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