These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.
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Fatal, highly contagious disease affecting only rabbits detected in Singapore
A highly contagious, acute and fatal disease that affects only rabbits was first detected in Singapore on Wednesday (Sept 16), the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) said in a statement on Thursday. Known as rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), it is not transmissible from animals to people and does not affect other animal species, added the AVS, which comes under the National Parks Board. "The virus that causes RHD was detected in samples from pet rabbits submitted by a veterinary clinic. Based on investigations so far, there may be up to 11 affected rabbits in the cluster and eight have died. "None of the cases are known to have a travel history. Epidemiological investigations are ongoing," the AVS said. It will be working with veterinary clinics and distributors on importing and registering vaccines for RHD. While there is no specific treatment available for RHD, supportive care can be provided for infected rabbits. The virus that causes RHD is transmitted between rabbits through direct contact with infected fluids, fur and carcasses. Transmission through objects such as shoes, clothing and equipment, and insects have also been recorded. The incubation period of RHD is between one and five days. – The Straits Times
Covid-19: Over 600 Malaysian healthcare workers infected
Since February, more than 600 healthcare workers in Malaysia have been infected with Covid-19, said Health Minister (MoH) Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba. Of the number, 406 are government hospital workers, while the rest are attached to private and university hospitals. Dr Adham said that aside from medical treatments, infected Health Ministry (MoH) workers are provided with psychosocial support through the ministry's Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC). "Those affected, besides having sessions with psychiatrists, will continue with treatment. Also, they will not be allowed to treat Covid-19 patients any longer," he told the media after launching the "Putrajaya In Orange" event in conjunction with World Patient Safety Day 2020 here yesterday. He said among the concerns raised by infected MoH workers are stress from being away from family, having to comply with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs), exhaustion, and issues concerning the Covid-19 special allowance. On World Patient Safety Day 2020, Dr Adham said three buildings and two bridges here will be lit orange for four nights beginning last night. The structures involved are the Prime Minister's Office, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry, Zenith Hotel and the Seri Warisan and Seri Saujana bridges. "This is a symbol of solidarity with and commitment to the safety of patients, and a sign of appreciation for all healthcare workers for their sacrifices in ensuring the safety of patients, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic," he said. – New Straits Times
Thais told to brace for Noul's wrath
Thirty-five provinces, mostly in the Northeast and the East and including Bangkok, are expected to be battered by heavy rain brought on by Tropical Storm Noul this weekend, the Meteorological Department says. In an update on Noul on Thursday, the department said the storm which was expected to intensify into a typhoon was about 600km southeast of Danang in Vietnam at 10am on Thursday. It was tracking north-westerly at a speed of 20 km per hour. It was forecast to make landfall in Vietnam and pass over Thailand via the north-eastern region on Friday. The department warned people in flood-prone areas to prepare for an emergency. Flash floods, water runoffs and strong winds are forecast with residents strongly advised to avoid sheltering under large trees or in houses that are not sturdy. Heavy downpours are expected to lash all provinces in the Northeast and the East, the first two regions to bear the brunt of the storm, on Friday. Noul will likely also trigger heavy rain as far south as Trang and Satun, the department said. Bangkok and surrounding provinces are also expected to feel the storm's power, as are western provinces such as Kanchanaburi, as well as Central Plains provinces including Nakhon Sawan, Lop Buri and Saraburi, on Saturday. The rainfall will persist over much of the country until Sunday. – Bangkok Post
COVID-19 opens way for educational reform, technology acceleration: Nadiem
While it has taken a toll on students and their learning outcomes, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented opportunities for educational reform thanks to the acceleration on technology use, Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim has said. Speaking at the Yidan Prize Asia Pacific Conference held by Chinese education foundation Yidan Prize on Wednesday, the minister said the health crisis had caused some positive transformations, including parents’ increased participation in their children’s education. “We have never seen such a level of forced adaptation as when parents and teachers stumbled across learning how to use the technology. We’ve also never seen the number of parents who realize what a curriculum is, what homework is or how difficult it is to teach your children,” said Nadiem. He added that the pandemic had forced policymakers to work harder to address inequality gaps. During the pandemic, students living in rural areas and those from low-income families have struggled to access and afford the hardware and internet access necessary to participate in online classes. A survey launched by SMERU in July showed that teachers in villages, especially outside Java, needed to visit their students’ homes to give and collect homework because of a lack of internet access. “The agenda of digitalizing schools to level the playing field in areas that may not have access has now been accelerated, as well as the redistribution of good teachers and the adoption of technology as a tool to enhance the capability of teachers, parents and students,” the minister said. – The Jakarta Post
DOH seeks additional P10B budget for health facilities enhancement
The Department of Health (DOH) is asking lawmakers for an additional P10-billion budget for its Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) next year. During the DOH’s 2021 budget briefing at the House of Representatives Friday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said his agency had proposed a P45 billion HFEP budget for 2021 but only P4.7 billion was approved with a P5.5 billion under unprogrammed funds. “We are requesting this to address the concerns of several members of Congress on additional support for improving the infrastructure of our hospitals, rural health units, LGU (local government unit) hospitals, health care facilities, as well as military hospitals, especially that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the functionality of our infrastructure and implementation of UHC law,” Duque said. HFEP aims to upgrade health facilities as well as to provide training to health professionals to improve public access to quality health care. he DOH made the appeal as the country continues to struggle with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which has infected 276,289 people as of Thursday. Of the total cases nationwide, 208,096 are recoveries while 4,785 are deaths. – INQUIRER.net
Transport ministry prepares for resumption of international flights
Airlines will only be able to sell tickets to passengers with a visa for Việt Nam and residential accommodations in the country when commercial international flights to Việt Nam resume. The Ministry of Transport detailed the guidelines to relevant agencies on Wednesday evening after Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh agreed with its proposal to resume international flights between Việt Nam and some partners. Deputy Transport Minister Lê Anh Tuấn asked the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAA) to work with relevant agencies in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, authorities and airlines in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Cambodia and Laos to identify eligible passengers, procedures and conditions for them to take the fights. For example, the process to measure body temperature, install the NCOVI app and report health conditions and RT-PCR testing results. When selling tickets, airlines must check COVID-19 testing results granted by authorised agencies in host countries. The testing results must be issued within three days of flying. The air carriers have to send lists of passengers to the aviation authority 12 hours before the flight and confirmed lists of passengers 30 minutes before the flights’ departure. Passengers who transit from third countries to Việt Nam will sit in separate cabins and not share same cabins with those who departed from Guangzhou (China), Taiwan (China), Seoul (the Republic of Korea), and Tokyo (Japan), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Vientiane (Laos). Passengers when arriving Việt Nam’s airports will be grouped and taken to quarantine areas in line with quarantine plans of the People’s Committee of provinces/cities where they arrive. – Viet Nam News
230 stalls destroyed in Takeo market blaze
A fire that broke out yesterday in Samroan Young market along National Highway 2, Takeo province, razed at least 230 stalls, authorities said. Bati District deputy police chief Chhay Keomony said the fire started at around 7pm and was extinguished at around 10pm. The authorities said that they were able to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading to local residential housing in the district, with some 22 fire trucks used in the operation. The cause and cost of the fire is yet to be determined, but initial reports say that some 230 out of the 233 stalls at the market have been destroyed. This makes the blaze by far the biggest fire-related disaster in the Kingdom this year, followed by the fire at the Thom Market in Battambang last month, which razed 33 stalls. – Khmer Times