KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 11):  The Health Ministry has identified 22 people who were in close contact with the country’s 18th novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) patient, Malaysiakini reported today.

Health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah (pictured) said three of the people were the patient's family members while the rest were medical personnel.

"We are continuing our close contact detection work to identify others who may have been in contact with the patient (case no 18), apart from giving health education as well as containment and prevention of cases," Noor Hisham said in a statement on Facebook.

Yesterday, Health Minister Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced that Malaysia has recorded its 18th positive case.

According to a Bernama report, the latest case involved a 31-year-old Malaysian man who worked in Macau and had returned to Malaysia on Feb 1.

It was reported that he started feeling ill on Feb 3 and then sought treatment in a clinic. He was given medication on Feb 4 and 6.

“On Feb 7, he was still not well and went to seek treatment at a health clinic and was referred to Banting Hospital, Selangor, for examination and treatment on the same day," added Noor Hisham in his statement.