Sungai Buloh Hospital Infectious Disease head Datuk Dr Christopher Lee said that the organisms that cause pneumonia can be transmitted from person to person. Dr Lee added that viral pneumonia, such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), tends to be more infectious. Dr Lee said that besides pneumonia caused by viruses, bacterial pneumonia can also be transmitted from one person to another, although they are less contagious than those caused by viruses. That is why it is important for those in the risk group, as well as everyone else, to adopt preventive measures against bacteria and viruses, Dr Lee said. On whether there is any particular type of pneumonia linked to floods, Dr Lee said “not directly”.

Source: The Star December 26, 2017 21:11 UTC