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Rabies, a neglected viral zoonosis disease, impose a major public health and veterinary importance. There is limited attention to the role of wild animals as sylvatic reservoirs of the rabies virus. Thus, this systematic review aims to identify various types of animals with rabies infection, determine the prevalence of rabies virus in animals, and identify the high-risk animal that could contribute to human rabies. A systematic search was performed in the PubMed and Web of Science databases for papers on rabies in animals published from 2015 until 2019. The articles were analyzed on the prevalence of rabies infection among the animal which ranges from 0% up to 74.16%. The highest was dogs with 0.02% to 74.16% followed by fox 52.93% up to 70.1%. The other two animals namely camel and sheep/goat revealed more than 50% of rabies prevalence of 59.7% and 57.1% respectively. This study shows that the rabies prevalence in the animal varies, and dogs still have the highest prevalence as the leading causes of rabies transmission to the human. Dog and fox are the most common animal with rabies in our systematic review. Thus, domestic animals that are kept as pets especially dogs should be properly vaccinated against rabies. Meanwhile, avoidance or extra cautious while handling wildlife animals should be of primary importance.

Considerable efforts and concurrent studies have been made to substantiate the control of tuberculosis (TB). The control was not achieved significantly, as the stigma is one of the significant barriers to controlling tuberculosis. It hampers the TB treatment’s determined targeted completion. However, despite countless measures to improve therapy completion, non-adherence to therapy remains a global issue. This systematic review is aimed at evaluating tuberculosis-related measures to increase adherence to treatment among patients with tuberculosis in developing countries. A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Pro-Quest science Direct, Ovid, Spring, Global Health, and Cochrane) covering articles published between 2003 and 2019 was carried out using truncated search words such as “tuberculosis-related stigma,” TB Stigma,” “intervention,” “treatment adherence,” “treatment compliance" and "developing countries." We included information from developing countries addressing the stigma between TB patients and their anti-stigma intervention. Eight hundred sixty-seven articles have been retrieved, 346 have been excluded due to duplication, and 397 other non-relevant articles have been excluded at the title screening stage. Subsequently, after full-text articles were assessed for failing to meet inclusion criteria, 118 articles were excluded, and only six studies remained. The six articles have improved TB treatment outcomes with stigma intervention, including health education and counseling, TB club self-support, and psychological support interventions. Setting, resources and local TB epidemiology may vary in the optimal implementation of stigma interventions.

SARS-CoV-2 virus created a huge health impact due to isolation, quarantine, or lockdown. University students also affected with the closure of institute and switch in teaching methods. The objective of this study is to explore the health-related lifestyle changes among university students during the implementation of movement control order. Secondly, we aimed to convoke suggestions and recommendations to promote healthy living amidst university students. This study implemented qualitative method via using a semi-structured interview. Three focus group discussions were conducted consisting of 12 participants recruited from snowball sampling method. Utilizing verbatim transcription approach, an inductive thematic point was sketch for data analysis. Seven male and five female students with a mean age of 20 ± 1.3 years (range 19-23) were recruited into this study. Four themes identified from the interview. Physical health influence by administrative roles to physically inactive and less sport activity. Secondly, mental health concern towards mixed emotions, coping strategy, psychological adjustment, and mental health issues. Variation and self-prepare food, food supply, dietary habit and dietary pattern contribute to changes in food intake. Student lifestyles modulate to sleep hygiene, alcohol consumption, online classes problem, individual factors, and other unhealthy activities. Some students experience no difference in the surrounding transformation. During the pandemic, students experienced health related-behavioural changes involving physical health, mental health, dietary and lifestyle. Even though some informants perceived no changes in certain aspect, they still experience health-related behavioural changes in other aspect linked to health.

An outbreak occurred at the National Service Training Camp Cancun Park in Pasir Mas, Kelantan and a subsequent outbreak investigation was carried out to verify the agent of the outbreak and to recommend a control measure. Descriptive (cases series) study was carried from 13th April 2008 to 16th May 2008 at the training camp. The case definition for the outbreak was a person presenting with a maculopapular rash with or without fever from 1st April 2008 and stayed in the training camp. Confirmed cases were clinical cases positive for rubella IgM. Case findings were carried out by the medical team in the camp and from the nearest health centre where the affected person who fit in the clinical case definition was interviewed, clinically examined, and had blood investigations done. A total of 337 persons (280 trainees and 57 camp trainers) who occupied the training centre at the point of the outbreak were purposively included in this study. Out of 337 occupants of the training camp, 22 (6.5% attack rate) fulfilled the case definition and all of them were among trainees. 95% of cases were male and 86% were Malays. 100% had a maculopapular rash, 77% presented with fever, 41% presented with cough and 50% presented with conjunctivitis. Rubella-specific IgM antibody was positive in 59% (n = 13) of the cases. There was no history of vaccination for all the confirmed cases. Control measures taken were strict isolation of the affected trainees, daily surveillance of rash and fever, and health education to promote awareness on symptoms and signs, nature of transmission, prevention, and control of rubella infection to trainees. Rubella is confirmed as the cause of the outbreak based on the clinical and serological analysis. The probable source of the outbreak is the possibility of exposure during a family day at the training camp.

This study aims to investigate the unsafe sexual behaviour among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) participating in community-based Treatment Adherence Peer Support Program (TAPS) based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. A cross-sectional study that involved 109 HIV-positive MSM was conducted using a validated questionnaire adapted from Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) 2012, in two main languages which are Malay and English.1 This questionnaire contained information on socio-demographic factors, respondents’ sexual history since they were diagnosed with HIV, and participation with community-based TAPS. Among the total 109 respondents, 62.4% had stated that they had practised unsafe sexual behaviour since they were diagnosed with HIV. Prevalence of self-reported Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) was 24.8%. About 92.7% of participants were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and had achieved 96% of compliancy. Prevalence of unsafe sexual behaviour differed significantly between respondents on HAART (66.3%) compared to the non-HAART group (12.5%) (χ2 = 7.005, p < 0.01). Duration of last participation in the TAPS program significantly associated with unsafe sexual behaviour (χ2 = 16.96, p

The elderly population in Malaysia are multiplying, and older people's reliance on social services such as elderly institutions has increased. Mental health problems especially depression is one of the main problems with institutionalized elderly. This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of depression among the elderly in all three state-run institutions in Sabah. A multi-centred, cross-sectional study was conducted on residents of all three state-run elderly institutions in Sabah (N=110). All residents that fulfil the criteria were included in the study through a self-administered set of validated questionnaires that measure perceived social support, loneliness, and depression. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences by IBM (IBM SPSS) v25 was used and Chi-Square and logistic regression for analysis. The prevalence of depressive symptoms is at 60.9%. The independent risk factors for depression in residents were male gender (OR=4.09, 95%CI=1.55, 10.79), perceived poor health status (OR=6.63, 95%CI=2.49, 17.65), and loneliness (OR=6.12, 95%CI=2.02, 18.53). Depression is prevalent among the elderly in the state-run institutions in Sabah, Malaysia. A comprehensive mental health screening program needs to be implemented for the elderly institutions along with adequate training for staff to handle mental health issues in the elderly.

Higher education institutions face major challenges in managing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic The risk of exposure from the community poses a threat to campus staff and students This study describes epidemiological characteristics of suspected COVID-19 cases among a public university’s students and staff This is a retrospective review on data collected from the institute’s COVID-19 Preparedness and Respond Centre, located at the main campus in Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah from mid-January to April 2020 Incidence rate was calculated, and epidemiological information retrieved from interviews and relevant documents The majority of suspected COVID-19 cases were staff (57 1%) with incidence rates higher among males (IR=40 2/1,000 population) and those working in the frontline (IR=39 6/1,000 population) Suspected COVID-19 cases were mostly related to occupation (37 3%) and social contacts (27 3%) Student cases were largely related to household (38 1%) and during travel (33 3%) One positive COVID-19 case was reported of out of the 161 suspected cases (0 6%) in the institution An operational team must be set up to conduct situational analysis and integrate management with other departments Suspected COVID-19 cases must be quarantined and monitored on a daily basis A high index of suspicion and effective containment of suspected cases will prevent spread of the virus among students and staff © 2020 All rights reserved

Undernutrition is the result of complex interplay of factors such as household food security, childcare, feeding practices, nutrition and sanitation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of stunting, wasting, underweight based on WHO child growth standards 2006 and undernutrition based on Composite Index Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) and its association with the biological, behavioural, socio-economic and physical environment factors among children under-5 years. This was a cross sectional study involving children aged between 6 and 59 months recruited through stratified random sampling from the Tenom district. Sociodemographic background was obtained from mothers via a questionnaire. Height and weight measurements were measured using standardised instrument. The height-for-age, weight-for-age and BMI-for-age were classified according to the WHO Child Growth Standard 2006. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted. The prevalence of undernutrition based on CIAF was 42.3%, underweight 34.7%, stunting 33.3% and wasting 10.0%. After adjusting for all confounders, childhood undernutrition was significantly associated with unimproved sanitation (adjusted OR 2.98, 95% CI: 1.082 to 8.225) and frequent illness (adjusted OR 2.07, 95% CI: 1.015 to 3.274). These findings support the association of biological and physical environmental factors with the nutritional status of children under-5 years old.

Stress is accepted as the accumulation of unpleasant state of physical, mental and emotion on a person. Medical education has been known as one of the most stressful academic curriculum. Hence, medical students may subjected to multiple psychological changes and challenges throughout the years of medical education. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of stress and its associated factors among medical students. This cross sectional study was conducted from April to May 2018 in medical school in Sabah. It involved 396 medical students through universal sampling. Self-administered questionnaires were used as an instrument for data collection. The questionnaires included were Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21) and Medical Student Stressors Questionnaire (MSSQ). Bivariate analysis (Chi Square test, Fisher’s Exact Test, Independent T test and Man-Whitney U test) were used to analyse the association. The response rate was 90.2%. The prevalence of stress among medical students were 33.3%. Significant associated factors include financial support inadequacy (p=0.010) and all categories of medical student stressors. The mean score of the academic related stressors was found to be at 2.117 (±0.758) which was the highest mean score among medical student stressors assessed by MSSQ. The result of this study can be used as a basis for implementation of preventive measures such as provision of comprehensive, integrated and responsive mental health care services in university-based settings.