Malaysia recorded a 4.4 per cent increase in tuberculosis (TB) cases as of June 6 compared to the same period last year, although the overall situation remains under control, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said.
In a written parliamentary reply, Dzulkefly said that 11,257 TB cases had been registered up to Epidemiological Week (EW) 22 of 2026, compared with 10,779 cases during the corresponding period in 2025, representing an increase of 478 cases.
He said the rise was expected and reflects intensified case detection efforts aimed at identifying infections earlier so that patients can begin treatment promptly.
Despite the increase in infections, TB-related deaths have declined significantly. A total of 492 deaths were recorded up to June 6 this year, compared with 856 deaths during the same period in 2025, marking a 43.1 per cent reduction.
Dzulkefly was responding to a question from Dr Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu (PH–Batu Gajah), who sought an update on Malaysia’s current TB situation, including infection and mortality trends, challenges in early detection, treatment compliance and the government’s efforts to eliminate the disease by 2035.
The Health Minister said one of the biggest obstacles in detecting TB early is the bacteria’s long incubation period, which often delays the appearance of symptoms and results in patients seeking medical attention only after the disease has progressed.
He added that social and geographical factors continue to hamper early detection. These include limited public awareness of TB symptoms, social stigma surrounding the disease, and difficulties in accessing healthcare services in certain areas.
Dzulkefly also noted that the use of diagnostic technologies with lower sensitivity and specificity remains another challenge in identifying TB cases accurately.
On treatment, he said patients are required to undergo medication for at least six months, while side effects from the drugs may affect adherence to the treatment programme.
Failure to complete treatment increases the risk of unsuccessful recovery, continued transmission of the disease and the development of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB), he said.
Patients diagnosed with DRTB require far more complex treatment, with therapy lasting up to two years and involving substantially higher healthcare costs.
The government continues to strengthen TB detection and treatment efforts as part of its long-term goal of eliminating tuberculosis in Malaysia by 2035.
