Epidemiological Characteristics of COVID-19 in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Mohd ‘Ammar Ihsan Ahmad  Zamzuri; Farah Edura Ibrahim; Muhammad Alimin Mat Reffien; Mohd Fathulzhafran Mohamed Hanan; Muhamad Hazizi Muhamad  Dasani; Noor Khalili Mohd Ali; Hasanain Faisal Ghazi; Mohd Rohaizat Hassan

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2020.5461

Authors

Mohd ‘Ammar Ihsan Ahmad Zamzuri Department of Community Health, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 2Seremban District Health Office, Negeri Sembilan State Health Department, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Farah Edura Ibrahim Department of Community Health, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Muhammad Alimin Mat Reffien Department of Community Health, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Mohd Fathulzhafran Mohamed Hanan Department of Community Health, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Muhamad Hazizi Muhamad Dasani Seremban District Health Office, Negeri Sembilan State Health Department, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Noor Khalili Mohd Ali Seremban District Health Office, Negeri Sembilan State Health Department, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Hasanain Faisal Ghazi College of Nursing, Al-Bayan University, Baghdad, Iraq
Mohd Rohaizat Hassan Department of Community Health, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2020.5461

Keywords:

Epidemiology, COVID-19, SARs-CoV2, Malaysia, Seremban

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 has become a global pandemic with an increasing burden on healthcare. Early recognition of the trend and pattern of the chain of transmission is necessary to slow down the spread.

AIM: Therefore, the study aimed to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 at a local setting.

METHODS: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done to all COVID-19 cases registered in Seremban Health District. Statistical analysis, using Chi-square test, was employed to compare the sociodemographic characteristic of COVID-19 patients between the red zone area and the non-red zone area in Seremban.

RESULTS: As of April, a total of 214 number of COVID-19 cases reported in Seremban district alone. The trend of cases registered has changed as more asymptomatic infection outnumbered patients with clinical symptoms from the aggressive active case detection (ACD) activity. Majority of the cases affecting Malay ethnicity were due to a large religious gathering event held 1 month earlier than subsequently spread the infection within the community.

CONCLUSION: The first wave of COVID-19 cases in Seremban was sudden and unexpected, with a skewed distribution affecting a particular race group regardless red zone area and non-red zone area. Therefore, identifying the pattern of infection in the local community is important for a focused intervention strategy. ACD strategy, isolation of patients, quarantine the exposed, tracking down the close contact, and continuous health promotion and education will ultimately break the chain of transmission.

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