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Source: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2...9-year-old-boy
Diphtheria outbreak declared in Sandakan following death of 9-year-old boy
By AVILA GERALDINE - August 7, 2017 @ 8:43pm
KOTA KINABALU: A diphtheria outbreak has been declared in Sandakan by the city?s Health Office following the death of a 9-year-old boy from the disease.
The boy ? a foreigner living at Jambatan 18, Kampung Sim Sim ? died on July 26, but the case was only officially confirmed on Aug 4 by the Duchess of Kent Hospital here.
News of the outbreak broke through a photograph of a health circular on the matter, which has been making its rounds on social media in the last few days.
The Aug 5 letter declaring the emergence of diphtheria ? an infectious disease that affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose ? was issued by the Sandakan Health Office.
?The Infectious Disease Control Unit of the Sandakan Health Office has declared Diphtheria Epidemic Episode 1/2017 and opened a Diphtheria Epidemic Operation Room beginning Aug 4,? the circular states.
Local daily The Borneo Post reported that the boy was a foreigner who had incomplete immunisation.
The paper reported that the victim began showing symptoms of fever, cough, flu and sore throat on July 18 and was taken to hospital three days later.
He tested positive for corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria and died on July 26.
Sabah Health Department director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi confirmed the case to the New Straits Times.
She added that two out of 18 people who lived with the boy have presented mild diphtheria symptoms...
Diphtheria outbreak declared in Sandakan following death of 9-year-old boy
By AVILA GERALDINE - August 7, 2017 @ 8:43pm
KOTA KINABALU: A diphtheria outbreak has been declared in Sandakan by the city?s Health Office following the death of a 9-year-old boy from the disease.
The boy ? a foreigner living at Jambatan 18, Kampung Sim Sim ? died on July 26, but the case was only officially confirmed on Aug 4 by the Duchess of Kent Hospital here.
News of the outbreak broke through a photograph of a health circular on the matter, which has been making its rounds on social media in the last few days.
The Aug 5 letter declaring the emergence of diphtheria ? an infectious disease that affects the mucous membranes of the throat and nose ? was issued by the Sandakan Health Office.
?The Infectious Disease Control Unit of the Sandakan Health Office has declared Diphtheria Epidemic Episode 1/2017 and opened a Diphtheria Epidemic Operation Room beginning Aug 4,? the circular states.
Local daily The Borneo Post reported that the boy was a foreigner who had incomplete immunisation.
The paper reported that the victim began showing symptoms of fever, cough, flu and sore throat on July 18 and was taken to hospital three days later.
He tested positive for corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria and died on July 26.
Sabah Health Department director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi confirmed the case to the New Straits Times.
She added that two out of 18 people who lived with the boy have presented mild diphtheria symptoms...