COVID-19: A Tale of the First Local Transmission in Malaysia

Introduction China reported a cluster of pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan city late December 2019 which was then spread to the rest of the world. 1 The first case of COVID-19 in Malaysia, imported case from China, was detected on 24 January 2020. 2 In this study, we described the first local transmission cluster of COVID-19, confirmed on 5 February 2020. Materials and Methods This study is part of the Spread of COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia study (NMRR-20-720- 54598). Data was extracted from the relevant COVID19 Outbreak Investigation Format from the District Health Offices in Kuala Muda District, Kedah and Petaling District, Selangor. The source of infection, number of positive cases and time taken for the cluster to end were identified. Results The index case of this local transmission of COVID-19, was the first Malaysian imported case. The source of infection for this case was the hotel-linked cluster in Singapore. 3 Only 2 cases found as positive in this first local transmission cluster. A total of 48 close contacts were traced; 12 and 36 close contacts from the first and second cases respectively, and all were tested negatives. The cluster ended on 22 February 2020. Discussion / Conclusion COVID-19 spread rapidly from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals through droplets. Close contacts from inter-state movement and public/family gathering were identified as the source of transmission. Family gathering as a source of COVID-19 transmission also reported in China. Family or public gathering during festival or religious event should be prohibited or controlled in COVID-19 prevalent areas. • Detail description of this first local cluster was published recently