kiwibird
Editor, Senior Moderator
uly 05, 2010 19:41 PM
Malaria Outbreak In 15 Penan Settlements Under Control
KUCHING, July 5 (Bernama) -- The malaria outbreak in 15 Penan settlements in Ulu Baram is under control, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said Monday.
He said medical teams had been despatched to the areas to check on the Penan and give them malaria pills to curb the spread of the mosquito-borne disease as all cases were treatable.
"I have received feedback that it was very hard to reach the Penan, so the medical teams had to wait for them to come out from the jungle in order to give them the tablets," Dr Chan, who is also the State Disaster and Relief Management Committee chairman, told reporters after receiving sponsorship worth RM1.2 million from Celcom for the Rainforest World Music Festival 2010.
It was reported that there were at least five confirmed malaria cases over the last few days but Dr Chan clarified that one of the patients, a 70-year-old man, had died from kidney problems and other complications on Friday.
The five villagers from Long Palai, including the village head, were admitted to the Miri Hospital.
He said a total of 1,286 malaria cases, including 655 in Baram with the highest incidence, had been reported in Sarawak up to the 25th week this year compared to 2,158 cases during the corresponding period last year.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=511081
Malaria threatens thousands
by Norni Mahadi
July 5, 2010, Monday
Villagers in Baram and Penan settlements risk contracting disease after outbreak
MIRI: Thousands of folk from seven villages along Baram river as well as Penan settlements along Silat river are feared to be threatened by a malaria outbreak with at least five confirmed cases in the last few days.
The seven villages in Ulu Baram comprise Long San, Long Selatong, Tanjong Tepalit, Long Apu, Long Julan, Long Anap and Long Palai.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan confirmed the outbreak when met at Miri Airport yesterday.
Without giving the full detail, Dr Chan, who is also chairman of the State Disaster and Relief Management Committee, said quite a few of the people in the affected areas were suspected to have contracted the disease.
?I have been informed by medical officers on the cases. A medical team has already been despatched to the area to get a clearer picture of the outbreak,? he disclosed.
Five villagers from Long Palai, including the village head, had been admitted to Miri Hospital in the last few days.
All were confirmed to have contracted P vivax malaria, a common type of malaria which normally occurs in temperate region and is not life-threatening.
However, on one of the patients, a 60-year-old who was reported dead at about 1am on Friday, Dr Chan clarified that his death was not due to malaria but other health problems.
Meanwhile, Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok when contacted yesterday said he had been informed and had sent his men to go to the ground to get the full picture.
The situation is under control at the moment, he said, urging the people in the affected areas not to panic.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease and those who contract it show symptoms that include fever and headache.
In severe cases, the disease could lead to hallucinations, coma and death
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=44357
Malaria Outbreak In 15 Penan Settlements Under Control
KUCHING, July 5 (Bernama) -- The malaria outbreak in 15 Penan settlements in Ulu Baram is under control, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said Monday.
He said medical teams had been despatched to the areas to check on the Penan and give them malaria pills to curb the spread of the mosquito-borne disease as all cases were treatable.
"I have received feedback that it was very hard to reach the Penan, so the medical teams had to wait for them to come out from the jungle in order to give them the tablets," Dr Chan, who is also the State Disaster and Relief Management Committee chairman, told reporters after receiving sponsorship worth RM1.2 million from Celcom for the Rainforest World Music Festival 2010.
It was reported that there were at least five confirmed malaria cases over the last few days but Dr Chan clarified that one of the patients, a 70-year-old man, had died from kidney problems and other complications on Friday.
The five villagers from Long Palai, including the village head, were admitted to the Miri Hospital.
He said a total of 1,286 malaria cases, including 655 in Baram with the highest incidence, had been reported in Sarawak up to the 25th week this year compared to 2,158 cases during the corresponding period last year.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=511081
Malaria threatens thousands
by Norni Mahadi
July 5, 2010, Monday
Villagers in Baram and Penan settlements risk contracting disease after outbreak
MIRI: Thousands of folk from seven villages along Baram river as well as Penan settlements along Silat river are feared to be threatened by a malaria outbreak with at least five confirmed cases in the last few days.
The seven villages in Ulu Baram comprise Long San, Long Selatong, Tanjong Tepalit, Long Apu, Long Julan, Long Anap and Long Palai.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan confirmed the outbreak when met at Miri Airport yesterday.
Without giving the full detail, Dr Chan, who is also chairman of the State Disaster and Relief Management Committee, said quite a few of the people in the affected areas were suspected to have contracted the disease.
?I have been informed by medical officers on the cases. A medical team has already been despatched to the area to get a clearer picture of the outbreak,? he disclosed.
Five villagers from Long Palai, including the village head, had been admitted to Miri Hospital in the last few days.
All were confirmed to have contracted P vivax malaria, a common type of malaria which normally occurs in temperate region and is not life-threatening.
However, on one of the patients, a 60-year-old who was reported dead at about 1am on Friday, Dr Chan clarified that his death was not due to malaria but other health problems.
Meanwhile, Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok when contacted yesterday said he had been informed and had sent his men to go to the ground to get the full picture.
The situation is under control at the moment, he said, urging the people in the affected areas not to panic.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease and those who contract it show symptoms that include fever and headache.
In severe cases, the disease could lead to hallucinations, coma and death
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=44357