KUCHING: A mass blood survey has been carried out in Taman Sri Malihah, Matang here, after a man tested positive for malaria.
Sarawak Health Director Dr Jamilah Hashim said the man, staying in the neighbourhood, has returned from Solomon Islands, recently.
Thus, a survey was conducted within a 200m radius of the patient's house, beginning on Saturday.
To date, 192 residents in the neighbourhood have been screened.
Jamilah, in a statement today, also confirmed a notice issued by the department on the malaria case, which went viral in the social media.
"Yes, the notice was issued by our district health office, to inform the clinics in the affected and surrounding areas, to be alert, if there are any suspected (malaria) cases and to inform the residents on the purpose of our blood survey," she explained.
The department has also conducted entomology studies in the areas and discovered the population of Anopheles letifer mosquitoes, which can transmit the disease.
Several steps were taken to address the situation immediately, such as vector control, indoor residual spraying as well as distributing mosquito nets to every family within the radius, which had involved 168 houses, thus far.
Residents were advised to install mosquito nets and to apply mosquito repellents as preventive measures.
People staying in the affected areas were told to fully cooperate with the authorities during the screening process.
It is learnt that four teams, involving 14 staff will be deployed to conduct door-to-door visit, targeting 300 houses in the next few days.