Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

[kiwibird]

Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia Thanks to: Alert

July 31, 2010 00:29 AM

Bakun Worker In Hospital For Suspected Leptospirosis

KUCHING, July 30 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Friday confirmed that a 46-year-old man had been admitted to Bintulu Hospital for suspected leptospirosis but said there was no outbreak of the disease in the Bakun area.

Dr Chan, who is also Sarawak Disaster Relief Committee chairman, said the patient, who was believed to be a Chinese national working at the Bakun hydro-electric dam project site, was in serious condition.

"As far as I know, there is no outbreak and I have checked the medical report from the Health Department to ensure there is no panic in the Bakun area because even though leptospirosis is not on the list of notifiable diseases, the administrative notification was implemented in Sarawak in 2003," he told a news conference at his office in Petra Jaya, here.

He described as not true a recent report by a news portal that nine workers had died from the disease which had infected about 50 workers in the past year after they were purportedly exposed to the bacteria (leptospirae) during ground drilling.

He said there were three positive cases, including two deaths, in Lubuk Antu and Bintulu out of the 36 admitted to hospital for suspected leptospirosis so far this year. Five of the cases showed up negative and the rest were awaiting results of tests, he added.

Fourteen of the suspected cases were from Bintulu while the rest were from Sibu (eight), Miri (four), Kuching and Kapit (three each), Saratok and Sarikei (two each), and Sri Aman and Lubok Antu (one each).

Last year, 157 people were admitted to government hospitals throughout Sarawak for leptospirosis but no fatalities were reported, he said.

In a lot of cases, he said, the water-borne disease, which could be found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents and wild animals, infected bare-footed farmers who contracted it from the soil contaminated by the urine of the infected animals.

He said the cases in Sarawak suffered from the same disease which earlier this month killed six people who had taken part in a search-and-rescue operation for a drowned victim in Lubuk Yu, Pahang.

-- BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=517769

[kiwibird]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

Two die of leptospirosis disease

July 31, 2010, Saturday

KUCHING: Two people died of leptospirosis, an infectious disease caused by bacteria in the urine of animals like rats, in the state as of July 25.Over the same period, 36 people were admitted statewide for suspected leptospirosis, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan.

From that figure, Bintulu recorded 14 cases, Sibu reported eight cases, Miri — four, Kuching and Kapit – three each, Saratok and Sarikei – two each, while Sri Aman and Lubok Antu had one case each.“So far, three cases tested positive with two deaths in Lubok Antu and Bintulu. Five cases were negative and the rest still pending for results,” Dr Chan, who is State Disaster Relief Committee chairman, told a news conference yesterday.

He said leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics such as Amoxycilin, Ampicillin, Doxycyclin or Erythromycin and patients must report themselves as early as possible.He cautioned that late treatment might lead to fatalities, but added leptospirosis was not a notifiable disease.

Dr Chan pointed out that most leptospirosis cases involved farmers due to infected soil and contaminated water in the farm.“Unfortunately, there is yet a vaccine. So what our farmers can do is put on boots when they go to the farm to prevent contact from soil with bacteria.”

He said it is difficult to diagnose leptospirosis as its symptoms shared similarities with dengue and other viral diseases, while the test normally took months to deliver results.

On the suspected leptospirosis case at the Bakun hydroelectric dam project involving a 46-year-old Chinese man who remained unconscious as of yesterday, he said the report on an online news portal was untrue.“It is just a suspected case and the condition of the Chinese man is quite severe,” he said, adding he could not confirm if the man is a foreign national.“It is not an outbreak. We are telling about the disease because we want to be more careful.”He added that by next week, the authorities concerned should be able to provide detailed information on the infectious disease.

Last year, 74 patients admitted to government hospitals throughout the state were diagnosed with leptospirosis. No deaths were reported.The divisions with the highest number of cases were Bintulu, Sibu, Kuching and Kapit.

Leptospirosis is predominantly a disease of tropical and subtropical climates. The bacteria causing leptospirosis can be found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents and wild animals.The infection can be spread to humans from animals through direct contact or indirect with the contaminated source via water, food or soil.The contamination is usually from the urine of the infected animals while an outbreak of leptospirosis can occur after bathing or drinking contaminated water. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.It is probably under-reported in many countries because of difficult clinical diagnosis and lack of diagnostic laboratory services.

This infectious disease should be suspected in patients with symptoms of fever, severe headache, prostration aching muscle or conjunctival suffusion or with signs of aseptic meningitis, adult respiratory distress syndrome with pulmonary haemorrhage, kidney failure or jaundice.

Leptospirosis is not in the list of notifiable diseases under the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Act Malaysia. However, administrative notification was implemented in the state in 2003

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=53993

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

Three recreational areas in Kedah have been closed due to leptospirosis. Four cases and one fatality have been confirmed. RK

"The victim who died was in his 30s and was a Penang Health Department employee. He had come for a picnic at Lata Bayu with two friends, who also contracted the disease and are now receiving treatment at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital,? he told reporters here yesterday."

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/5/nation/6800548&sec=nation

[kiwibird]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

Leptospirosis virus detected in two places in Sibu


2010/08/11
SIBU: Viruses that cause disease or leptospirosis rat urine, is detected at two points here.



[B]Public Health division, said in a statement here today, said the two were recreational lakes Tower Road and the pond on the National Service Training Camp Junaco Park.

The health officer, Dr Muhammad Rais Abdullah, asking for the public to avoid the area.
He said his office will notify the public if the two regions is confirmed safe to visit later.

Leptospirosis gained attention last June when eight people have died of suspected bacterial infection leptospirosis and melioidosis after joining the rescue of the Lubuk Yu, Maran, Pahang.


Saturday, Health Minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, instructed all district health officers to regulate the cleanliness of the campground recreation area, especially among the causes of the epidemic is rampant throughout the country. - BERNAMA - BERNAMA

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[kiwibird]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

The lake was actually closed in January, according to another report, this is an ongoing problem we have only recently been made aware of.
Leptospirosis: No trainees affected

August 13, 2010, Friday

KUCHING: There is no student of the National Service Training Program (NS) affected (health) so far Leptospirasp following the discovery of bacteria that causes leptospirosis infection in a swimming camp Junaco Park recently.
Director General of the National Service Training Department (JLKN) Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang said Minor, the public should not panic because JLKN take preventive measures.

"For more information, se-until now no one student or staff of the camp is reportedly infected with the bacteria," he said in a statement yesterday.

According to Hadi, he understood that the report was based on inspections by the Health Department Sibu at the end of last year before the entry of trainees Series 7 in 2010.
As a result of the bacteria pene-muan and advice the department said, the camps take preventive measures such as stopping all training activities of the water in the pond.

Obviously, the suspected cause is likely to contribute to the growth of bacteria, including the two horses, moved away from the area involved swimming.

In addition, the camp also released 100,000 fry into the pond that is believed to accelerate the process of recovery swimming.

He added that the camp is also a review to ensure that the source of water that flows into the pond that is clean and safe from any contamination elements.

"The JLKN will continue to take preventive measures and will cooperate with the Ministry of Health to ensure the quality of water in the swimming-pool in each NS camp in-stances to clean and safe," he said.

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[kiwibird]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

Public told to stay away from Jalan Permai?s Lake Garden for now


August 13, 2010, Friday


SIBU: Parents have been advised to keep their children away from the Lake Garden at Jalan Permai.

WARNING SIGNBOARDS: The Lake Garden where leptospira bacteria has been detected.
The place is considered dangerous as leptospiral bacteria have been detected there.

The advice came from Sibu Municipal Council deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng, who said they would put up warning signboards around the area.

?We are waiting for the Sibu Divisional Health Office (DHO) to give us the proper words to put on the signboards,? Ngieng told The Borneo Post yesterday when asked about measures taken to keep people away from the lake.

He stressed that proper wordings were necessary to alert people to the potential dangers without causing confusion or panic.

Ngieng advised people not to swim or take a dip in the lake, or even play in the water.

?Don?t even fish there,? he said, adding that the council was waiting for Sibu DHO?s advice on what to do next.

In the meantime, the authority (DHO) would keep tabs on the situation, said Ngieng.

A press release from the department on Wednesday disclosed that leptospiral bacteria were found in two places here but did not elaborate.

Sibu divisional health officer Dr Muhamad Rais Abdullah reportedly said he could not say for certain when the situation would become normal again. With secondary jungles nearby, rats could be roaming around the area, Ngieng said.

But then again, rats are found almost everywhere, he said.

Towards this end, he reiterated his call for members of the public to avoid making use of the facility for the time being.

Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sibu sub-branch advisor Dr Hu Chang Hock cautioned people not to swim in ponds or lakes as they could also contain the same bacteria or other dangerous virus.

?Go to a swimming pool as the water is treated and safe,? he said.

?The symptoms of the disease are similar to those of flu. These are headache, fever and so on. Prompt treatment is necessary,? he said.

Although only a blood test could confirm whether or not a person had contracted leptospirosis, Dr Hu said early and right treatment was most important

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=57880

[kiwibird]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

Published: Tuesday August 17, 2010 MYT 2:12:00 PM
Leptospirosis: 3 Perak NS training camps stop water activities
By IVAN LOH


IPOH: The Perak Health Department has instructed three National Service training camps to cease its water activities after samples taken from pools there tested positive for leptospirosis.

The camps are Nilam Ehsan Camp in Bidor, Taman Kepimpinan Gemilang Camp, Gopeng and another camp in Kuala Kangsar.

Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the health department had detected the disease through random samplings and checks at water sources in the state, including pools and waterfalls.

"All water activities will be suspended until further notice," he said after attending a lecture on leptospirosis at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital here Tuesday.

"No trainees or camp personnel were infected with leptospirosis or commonly known as rat urine disease," he added.

Dr Mah assured that everything was under control and urged the people not to panic.

As of June, 170 cases of leptospirosis with 13 fatalities have been recorded, Dr Mah said, adding that there were 280 cases with 19 deaths last year.

"It is hard to get actual data on the disease as it does not show any abnormal symptoms," he said.

"A common symptom is fever to which a patient can recover after treatment after a few days," he added.

Dr Mah further pointed out that leptospirosis was nothing new as it has been around for decades.

He noted that the disease had only caught the attention of the people due to the widespread media coverage on recent reports of several deaths due to the disease in Pahang.

Dr Mah explained that leptospirosis was a curable disease and would only be fatal if left untreated.

"The people should know how to prevent themselves from infected by the disease," he said, adding that people should always practise proper personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness.

Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital infectious disease specialist Dr Ker Hoog Bee said leptospirosis would only be spread by animals carrying the spirochete bacterium.

"Any freshwater source or soil contaminated by these infected animals' urine will only be able to infect a human through open wounds and minor skin injuries like an abrasion.

Dr Ker also assured that the bacterium carrying the disease was sensitive to disinfectant.

"Chlorine in swimming pools, for instant, will likely to kill off the bacterium," she said.

"Patient with mild leptospirosis can also be easily treated with antibiotics," she added.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/17/nation/20100817141949&sec=nation

[Shiloh]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...849&sec=nation

Saturday August 21, 2010
Number of leptospirosis cases on the rise in the last five years

PETALING JAYA: The number of leptospirosis infections, a rat-borne disease, has been steadily increasing over the last five years.

According to the Health Ministry, there were 263 deaths because of the disease in 2004 compared with 1,418 cases last year.

The ministry?s disease control division director Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said there was increased awareness and reporting of the cases.

?The incidence of leptospirosis is five per 100,000 population in 2009 compared with 136.89 per 100,000 population for dengue,? he said in an e-mail reply to queries from The Star.

Dr Lokman confirmed that the leptospirosis incident in Lubuk Yu near Maran, Pahang in June was an outbreak.

The Lubuk Yu recreational forest near Maran, Pahang, has been closed to the public since July after six people died within a week after being involved in a search operation for a drowned victim.

Of the 83 people involved in the rescue work, eight died after they were infected by leptospirosis and melioidosis bacteria.

Another man, a state Health Department personnel, died when he was infected with leptospirosis after swimming in Lata Bayu, Baling, Kedah, which has remained temporarily closed to picnickers.

Besides Lata Bayu, two other recreational spots ? Puncak Jening in Kuala Nerang and Bukit Wang in Jitra ? have also been temporarily closed to the public.

On Tuesday, the Perak health department had asked three national service training camps to stop their water activities after samples taken from pools nearby tested positive for the leptospirosis bacteria.

Symptoms of leptospirosis can range from flu-like illness that can progress to meningitis, kidney failure, jaundice, and the bleeding of the lungs.

Symptoms of melioidosis include acute lung infection and blood infection.

[kiwibird]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

August 22, 2010 18:09 PM

Another Death From Leptospirosis In Kedah


ALOR SETAR, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- A 17-year-old boy has become the second person to die of leptospirosis (rat urine disease) in Kedah this month.

Kedah Director of Health Dr Marzuki Md Isa said today the teenager died yesterday at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.

He was believed to have gone for dip in the Puncak Janing recreation area in Kuala Nerang with four of his friends on July 16, he said when contacted.

"His friends do not have symptoms of the disease," he told Bernama, but said they were being given treatment also because the symptoms could emerge even after 15 days following contact with the bacteria.

"Some cases even take up to three weeks to be detected," he said.

The first death from the disease in the state occurred early this month when a staff of the Penang Health Department died at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital in Penang after a dip at the Lata Bayu picnic site in Baling, Kedah.

Dr Marzuki said that besides Puncak Janing, the recreation sites of Lata Bayu and Bukit Wang in Jitra were also closed to the public.

"I have received reports that people are still going to Puncak Janing. I would advise them to stop going there," he said.

-- BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=523098

[kiwibird]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

More info

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/8/22/nation/20100822185751&sec=nation

Leptospirosis: Second death in Kedah
By EMBUN MAJID


Three recreation areas - Puncak Janing, Bukit Wang and Lata Bayu - are closed to public

ALOR SETAR: A 17-year-old youth became the second victim of the leptospirosis (rat urine disease) disease in Kedah after visiting the Puncak Janing recreation area

The youth from Kampung Rambai in Bukit Raya, Pendang died on Saturday at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital.

Kedah Health Department director Dr Marzukhi Md Isa said Sunday that the youth had gone to Puncak Janing recreation area on July 16, with his four friends.

?The youth could have showed symptom of the disease a bit late because the disease can be detected between three days and three weeks,? he said.

He added that the department was also monitoring the health condition of the youth's four friends and they had been told to go the nearest hospital regularly.

It was reported on Aug 5, that one person had died due to the disease while two others were confirmed to have contracted it in Kedah.

Dr Marzukhi was reported as saying that the victim who died was in his 30s and was a Penang Health Department employee.

It was also reported that the two who confirmed contracted the disease were discharged after they were freed from the symptom.

Dr Marzukhi said that the state had closed the Puncak Janing recreation area following the death of the second victim and warned public not to visit the place.

?We have closed the main road to the recreation area but we learnt that they are other small roads leading to the recreation site.

?I hope that the public will take heed of the disease and avoid visiting the area,? he said.

Besided Puncak Janing two other recreation areas that were closed due to the disease are Bukit Wang recreation area and Lata Bayu recreation area

[kiwibird]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

A very ratty problem


Sun, Aug 22, 2010
New Straits Times



KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - The number of deaths in the country caused by leptospirosis, the bacteria usually found in the urine of rodents, has tripled in the past six years.

There is a straightforward message from the numbers, says the Health Ministry's disease control division director, Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman - they tell us that we have to address the issue of cleanliness, and this includes garbage and waste disposal.
...

Twenty people died in 2004 after being infected. The figure jumped to 62 last year. In the same period, the number of people infected has increased more than five-fold, from 263 to 1,418 cases.

The actual number of mortality and infection cases may be higher because these figures are only collected from clinics and hospitals in the government sector.

"They do not take into account the situation in the private sector as it was not a notifiable disease until recently," Dr Lokman said.

"From the figures, we can see an uptrend but it can be due to many reasons, such as more awareness about the disease, better diagnosis, more lab capacity and more reports lodged."

Asked if the rise in numbers could be attributed to an unchecked rodent population in the country, Dr Lokman declined to comment.

....

Once categorised as a notifiable disease, it is compulsory to report all leptospirosis infections in the country.

Leptospirosis is a disease associated with contact with the urine of wild and domestic animals, particularly rodent and cattle.

Symptoms include high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, vomiting, kidney or liver problems, anaemia and rashes, which may last from a few days to several weeks.

....

However, it is not known how many melioidosis cases there have been in the past years as, again, it is not a notifiable disease and little is known about its prevalence.

Melioidosis has a higher fatality rate than leptospirosis with 40 to 60 per cent of infected patients succumbing to the illness.

..

Although the rise in leptospirosis infection may seem worrying, the figures are negligible compared with the tens of thousands of dengue infections and deaths every year. Between Jan 1 and Aug 15, there were 30,455 infections with 95 deaths. In the same period last year, there were 28,710 cases and 67 deaths, an increase of 1,745 infections and 28 deaths.

Full story: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne...22-233270.html

[Shiloh]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

Source: http://news.ph.msn.com/regional/arti...mentid=4290567


By Agence France-Presse, Updated: 8/23/2010
Malaysia takes action as rat-borne disease kills 10

Malaysian health officials announced plans Monday to tackle an outbreak of the rat-borne disease leptospirosis that has killed 10 people, forcing several parks to close.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said doctors had been ordered to inform the authorities of any suspected cases in order to identify the source of infections, the Star daily reported.

"When we are able to identify the source of the bacteria, then measures can be taken to control it, including cleaning up works... and closure of the affected places if necessary," he told the paper.

Health officials said the number of leptospirosis deaths has more than tripled in the past six years with 20 deaths in 2004, 62 deaths last year and 95 deaths between January 1 to August 15 this year...

[Pathfinder]

Re: Summary of current leptospirosis outbreaks in Malaysia, 2010

Malaysia warns of waterborne disease after 10 die

August 23, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia?Malaysia has closed parks and warned the public about swimming and dumping trash in rivers after 10 people died from a disease spread by rats.

The latest reported death from the bacterial disease leptospirosis was Saturday. The 17-year-old boy in northern Kedah state had swam in a river and had a picnic with friends at a recreational park last month, the New Straits Times and The Star reported.

Several parks throughout the country have been closed since the first deaths were reported last month.

The Health Ministry's website warns people not to swim in public rivers when it rains and to avoid taking a dip if they have cuts on their body, which makes an infection more likely.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai was quoted by the Times on Monday as saying his ministry would distribute leaflets and posters to raise awareness of the disease.

.../

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2010/08/23/malaysia_warns_of_waterborne_disease_after_10_die/