Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

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Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

None of these outbreaks have more than one death in them. It seems that every young death in the country is getting reported. Some of them like the teacher seem to be isolated events. Some like the police trainee appear to be one severe illness in a cluster of milder illness, and the one in Malacca does seem like a cluster of severe illness, but it appears to be bacterial.

The Leptospirosis death was not sudden - that patient was hospitalized for a couple weeks.

Do you really think there is some common outbreak here? The symptoms don't seem to match.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

IMO the three outbreaks of "meningitis/viral" appear similar. The detention camp outbreak is not as close, geographically, and is distinguished by the authorities less aggressive response.

It is a balancing act for anyone trying to deal with disease: from post 56 above

On the impact of the H1N1 flu outbreak and meningitis on the tourism industry, Dr Ng said there was a need to deliver correct information on this matter.

 

[alert]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

I think there is a lot of background disease in that area. There is a posting above that mentions malaria, dengue, chikungunya, as well as many other diseases. I think every young death is getting reported.

I think the media in Malaysia has picked up the word "meningitis" to mean potentially contagious serious bacterial infection. The RTD Malacca outbreak might really be meningococcal meningitis (as now fewer than 20 of the 47 or 48 original patients remain warded after antibiotic treatment), but the Seremban outbreak appears to be different. The patient in Johor had previous brain issues (schizophrenia), and the Leptospirosis in Penang has apparently been confirmed (and the symptoms there are totally different).

I also have not seen anything in any of the outbreaks that seems to indicate person-to-person spread. The three outbreaks that do involve mutliple people seem to be simultaneous onset, and no serious illness in HCW has been reported (the three HCW in the Melaka case seem to be discarded).

I think this is what happens when you get a strong public health response in a country with a lot of media and a lot of background disease.

 

[alert]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

I just took a closer look at the article in posts 76/77, and it actually borders on nonsense. Schizophenia really isn't a symptom of any infectious disease I know of, and a previously schizophrenic person typically would not be allowed to be a teacher.

In addition, how could they know if the patient's "meningitis" was contagious or not if they didn't know what caused it. Or did they really know what the illness was (a brain tumor perhaps), and didn't want to publish it. The word meningitis is almost certainly being used out of context in some of these cases. This death is still very recent, and I look forward to any more information we will receive about it.

 

[alert]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

I was about to go to sleep, and I found this.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/18/nation/20090518131043&sec=nation

MALACCA: The last seven trainees from the Road Transport Department?s training academy in Tiang Dua, Jasin, who were amongst the 46 warded at the Malacca Hospital for bacterial meningitis since May 7, are expected to be discharged Tuesday.

They were warded at the hospital following the death of a 24-year-old trainee here on May 4.

State women affairs, family development and health exco Norpipah Abdol also said that the general quarantine imposed on a total of 449 trainees and academy personnel is also expected to be lifted on Tuesday.

 

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Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

This could be a bad sign. Fever and unconsciousness and from Johor.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/18/nation/3929035&sec=nation

Man rushed to hospital after fainting on plane


KUCHING: A Kuala Lumpur-bound AirAsia flight from Sandakan, Sabah, was forced to make an emergency landing here after a passenger fainted on board.

The unidentified 30-year-old man from Johor was rushed by ambulance to the Sarawak General Hospital at 2pm yesterday.

The hospital authorities are treating him as a suspected influenza A (H1N1) patient as he had a fever.

The man, who was still unconscious on arrival at the hospital, had travelled to Sandakan with two other friends on a business trip last Friday.

According to one of his friends, who declined to be named, the man had sustained serious head wounds in a road accident a year ago but it was not known if the fainting spell was linked to the past injury.

He said the man had not travelled abroad in recent months.

 

[alert]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

And possibly more trouble. We already knew the RTD trainees have visited Negeri Sembilan, but this old article mentions that they had traveled through Johor as well.

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/Frontpage/2553137/Article/index_html

In Johor Baru, state Health Department director Dr Mohd Khairi Yakub said the suspected outbreak of bacterial meningitis was an isolated incident which had no potential of spreading to Johor.

"The trainee who died was from Kelantan and although the trainees had travelled to Kesang in Muar, they had spent very little time there.

"Thus the possibility of the disease spreading to the state is negligible

 

[alert]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

Okay, so they don't suspect H1N1. I fear "meningitis".

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/18/nation/20090518103350&sec=nation

Meanwhile, the man who fainted in an AirAsia Kuala Lumpur-bound flight from Sandakan Sunday was not suspected of having A (H1N1) flu.

Dr Ramlee Rahmat said the man had not visited any countries affected by the flu recently.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

Okay, so they don't suspect H1N1. I fear "meningitis".

I fear you may be right.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://translate.google.com/transla...napress.com.my/&sl=zh-CN&tl=en&history_state0
更新: May 17, 2009 17:44 Updated: May 17, 2009 17:44

警察訓練中心腦膜炎疑雲 <BR>家長疑慮未消要求孩子退學 Police Training Center meningitis concerns suspicions misjudgment parents request <BR> children from school
（馬口17日訊）雖然日前病逝的警察訓練中心學員，已證實是死于急性心包炎，但之前掀起的腦膜炎疑雲仍引起恐慌，以致家長代受訓兒子向當局退學。 (MA I hearing on the 17th) passed away a few days ago while the Police Training Center students, has proved to be died of acute pericarditis, but the suspicions of meningitis before the wave of panic is a result of parents to the authorities on behalf of his son drop out of training.

消息指出，數名來自外坡的新學員家長，今早趕到仁保縣阿依逸淡警察訓練中心，代表身在營地內受訓的孩子請辭，以策安全。 Sources point out that the number of people from outside the slope of the new recruits parents, arrived this morning Yi-jen short Aida County Police Training Center, on behalf of the training camps are in the resignation of the children for safety reasons.

由于適逢週日，訓練中心指揮官沒有上班，因此，所有欲代表孩子請辭的家長，受促在明天辦公時間內，再親臨向指揮官作出要求，此外，他們也不被允許靠近被隔離的宿舍，抑或會見被隔離的學員。 As a result of falls on Sunday, Commander Training Center does not work, so they want to resign on behalf of the parents of the children, by promoting tomorrow during office hours, and then make a request in person to the Commander, in addition, they are not allowed to be segregated near quarters, or met with the students being segregated.

截至今日，仍有27名醫務人員在訓練中心內駐守，其中包括25名護士及2名醫生。 As of today, there are 27 medical personnel stationed at the training center, including 25 nurses and two doctors.

另一方面，仁保縣阿逸依淡警察訓練中心，今日仍謝絕媒體的採訪，一些在靠近隔離宿舍值勤的警官或警員，也依照醫務人員的勸告，戴上防毒口罩。 On the other hand, Ren hitam阿逸County Police Training Center, is still today declined an interview with the media, some quarters in the near isolation of the police officers or police officers on duty, but also in accordance with the advice of medical personnel, anti-virus masks to wear.

消息說，被隔離在仁保中央醫院特設病房的學員共有33名，另有1名出現發高燒症狀的學員，已被送到芙蓉中央醫院接受進一步觀察。 Sources said that security was isolated in the benevolence of the Ad Hoc Central Hospital wards a total of 33 students, and a high fever symptoms appear trainees have been sent to the central hospital for Hibiscus further observation.

此外，在中心內被隔離的學員人數，則有203名，他們都是因為體溫稍高，而被隔離在中心的宿舍。 In addition, the Center has been isolated in the number of trainees, there were 203, they are due to slightly higher temperature, which was isolated in the center of the dormitory.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://drchua9.blogspot.com/2009/05/influenza-h1n1-flu-epidemic-becoming.html

Monday, May 18, 2009
Influenza A (H1N1) Flu Epidemic becoming a Pandemic? / A（H1N1）型流感会否成为流行疾病

Now that the H1N1 flu has spread worldwide with 35 countries reporting more than 8,400 cases, the pressure falls upon WHO to upgrade the alert from level 5 to level 6 of the pandemic level. With 2 confirmed cases in Malaysia, we have also gone into the world map and the WHO radar screen of Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Once a pandemic announcement is made, it would have severe economic consequences affecting trade and travel. Many countries with inadequate health infrastructure will be greatly stressed. Some nations may even place travel restriction and it may totally cripple the tourism industry. For some countries who are dependant on the travel industry, this may be the last straw that breaks the camel?s economic back.

Personally, I feel that there is too much of publicity about Influenza A (H1N1) and this have generated mass panic, rather than rational response. There is no reason to panic over Influenza A (H1N1) since up till now, death from Influenza A (H1N1) is still on the low side, with less than 1 percent. Of course it spreads rapidly and hence, has high morbidity. On the yearly basis, the common flu kills up to 500, 000 people a year without much fun fare and publicity. Of course if the H1N1 virus mutates and becomes more virulent and spread as rapidly as at present, then we are in trouble.

Right now, I have received a lot of calls about people putting on hold their intention to travel. Having said that, we should not let our guards down. Personal hygiene is still the best protection. Until then, we hope that all airplane passengers travelling with the 2 confirmed cases and all people coming into contact with them should come forward for observation. Otherwise, they may be passing the bugs to others.

I have been given to understand that the isolation ward in Sg. Buloh Hospital is full and new patients will be going to General Hospital Kuala Lumpur. I am of the opinion that for the more educated suspect cases, it suffices to put them in house quarantine and close monitoring by doctors, rather than in isolation ward in the hospital.

It is concerning that probably healthy quarantine patients have already overwhelmed the health system. Should any of the "educated" suspects be contagious the possibility of disease spread would be greatly increased.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/5/18/nation/20090518165440&sec=nation
Published: Monday May 18, 2009 MYT 4:57:00 PM
Peri-carditis death of police trainee due to Influenza B

KUALA LUMPUR: Influenza B caused the acute pericarditis that killed a trainee from the Police Training Centre (Pulapah) in Air Hitam, near Bahau, on Thursday.

Pericarditis is the inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.

A statement from the Health Ministry on Monday said that there was just one trainee in the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital isolation ward and his condition was stable.

Of the 29 trainees placed under observation on Thursday, just 11 remain, said Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.

He said tests showed that they had been hit by Influenza B, a less common type of flu.

 

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Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

Does this diagnosis of influenza B in the Seremban death convince you that the Malacca outbreak (probably bacterial meningitis) and Seremban (influenza B) are of different etiologies? I still don't know what to make of the two Johor cases, but I'm sure time will tell. If the Seremban/Negeri Sembilan outbreak is not "meningitis", then the cause of the Malacca outbreak can come from anywhere else. Sporadic cases of meningitis do occur with some regularity worldwide, so even confirmation of meningitis in the Johor cases wouldn't be too alarming. Unless one of the was a contact of a Malacca case...

I know that Asia was hit hard by SARS and H5N1 and is now importing H1N1, but it really seems that anyone would gets a fever in Malaysia right now makes the news.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/NewsBreak/20090518160930/Article/index_html
2009/05/18
Police trainees under observation for fever gets Sunday release
By : Heidi Foo

SEREMBAN, Mon:

Twenty-one trainees from the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Air Hitam, Jempol, who were placed under observation for viral fever at the Jempol Hospital, were allowed to return home on Sunday.
Eleven trainees are yet to be discharged, while one is being treated at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital here.

Negri Sembilan Health Department director Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the 12 remaining trainees showed positive signs and were recuperating well.

Trainees and staff at the centre would continue to be monitored on a 24 hour basis and the centre would be quarantined as a precautionary measure.

"If there are no new cases reported this week the quarantine period will not be extended and parents can visit their children," he said when contacted here.
Zainal also said that medical reports revealed that the death of a 22-year-old trainee was not caused by meningitis or the influenza A (H1N1) virus.

"However our officers are taking necessary measures to ensure that there is no outbreak of the flu in the state. All district health offices have been instructed to be prepared at all times," he added.

He also advised those who showed symptoms of the flu to visit the nearest health clinic for an immediate examination.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=411946
May 18, 2009 19:30 PM

Leptospirosis: Two Deaths So Far

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry announced Monday that the number of deaths from Leptospirosis had risen to two.

Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the ministry was still waiting for the results of the post-mortems.

"Out of the 23 cases treated yesterday, one died while three were allowed to be discharged, leaving 19 cases still under treatment now," he said in a media statement issued today.

Out of the 19 cases, one is warded at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital's intensive-care unit (ICU) and the rest at its isolation ward and were reported to be in stable condition.

Another case at the Seberang Jaya's ICU, however, was reported to be in critical condition, Dr Mohd Ismail said.

Although a relatively rare bacterial infection in humans, Leptospirosis is commonly transmitted by allowing water that has been contaminated by animal urine to come into contact with unhealed breaks in the skin, eyes or mucous membranes.



-- BERNAMA

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/National/2559548/Article/index_html
2009/05/18
15 cleared of leptospirosis

By : Adie Suri Zulkefli


<!-- AddThis Button BEGIN --> <script type="text/javascript">addthis_pub = 'nstonline';</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://s7.addthis.com/js/152/addthis_widget.js"></script> <!-- AddThis Button END -->
<!--start pix1--> <table align="center" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td class="caption" id="aphoto">

Rela personnel guarding the entrance to the the state Health Department being stationed at the Juru Immigration detention camp.</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!--end pix1-->
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Fifteen out of the 38 Immigration Department detainees warded for suspected leptospirosis have been given a clean bill of health.
<!--start pix2 & pix3--> <table align="right" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="3" width="200"> </table> <!--end pix2 & pix3--> State Immigration director Abdul Rahman Harun said the 15 were discharged on Saturday evening, adding that no new cases were reported yesterday.

Rahman said four of the remaining 23 detainees were Bangladeshis, while the others were Myanmars between the ages of 17 and 45.

He said 22 of them were warded at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital and one at the Seberang Jaya Hospital's intensive care unit.

Rahman said the situation was under control with medical officers from the Bukit Mertajam Hospital and the state Health Department stationed at the Juru detention camp.
<center><!-- start video--> <!-- end video--> </center> He added that thorough fumigation and disinfection had been carried out at all four blocks in the camp.

"We have also increased our manpower at the camp and brought in Rela personnel as reinforcement."

Rahman said everyone at the camp, officers as well as 550 detainees, was given antibiotics.

He added that the camp had frozen the entry of new illegal immigrants and also temporarily banned visitors to the camp.

Rahman reiterated that the health department had confirmed that the disease was not contagious. As such, he said there was no reason for the surrounding residents to fear for their safety.

"This disease does not spread from one person to another as it only affects those who eat or come into contact with contaminated foods or water."

Last Tuesday, a 21-year-old Myanmar detainee from the camp died at Bukit Mertajam Hospital after being warded for leptospirosis while 26 others were warded for similar symptoms.

Leptospirosis outbreaks are usually caused by exposure to water or food contaminated with the urine of infected wild and domestic animals, especially rodents.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/NewsBreak/20090518173432/Article/index_html
2009/05/18
12 more detainees warded for leptospirosis
By : S. Arulldas

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Mon:

Twelve more detainees from the Juru detention camp, who developed symptoms of leptospirosis, have been warded at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital for observation.
Penang Immigration director Abdul Rahman Harun said 10 were admitted to the hospital on Sunday and the other two today.

He said they were admitted to the normal ward as their condition was not critical.

"Officials from the immigration, hospital and health department are taking the necessary precautionary measures to contain the disease," he said.

Abdul Rahman said of the 12 detainees, nine were Bangladeshis and the rest from Myanmar.
Currently, thirty-four people had been warded at Bukit Mertajam Hospital and another at the Seberang Jaya Hospital's intensive care unit.

Fifteen detainees who were warded with the symptoms at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital were discharged on Saturday.

Abdul Rahman said the camp remained out of bound for outsiders.

Last Tuesday, a 21-year-old Myanmar detainee from the camp died at Bukit Mertajam Hospital after being treated for leptospirosis while 26 others were warded for similar symptoms.

Leptospirosis outbreaks are caused by exposure to water or food contaminated with the urine of infected wild and domestic animals, especially rodents.

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=412103
May 19, 2009 14:48 PM

Cleanliness, Hygiene At Immigration Depot To Be Stepped Up

BUTTERWORTH, May 19 (Bernama) -- Cleanliness and hygiene at immigration depots nationwide are to be stepped-up to ensure safety of staff and inmates there against contracting infectious diseases, Immigration Director-General Abdul Rahman said today.

He said this was in addition to the scheduled checks conducted by the Health Department to ensure the depots met the health and hygiene standards and to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

"We have the cooperation of the Health Ministry to monitor cleanliness and hygiene at our depots nationwide and there is no need for the public to worry," he told a press conference at the Penang Immigration head office here today.

Since the past few days, 26 illegal immigrants from the Juru Immigration depot near here have been warded with leptospirosis at two hospitals in Seberang Perai and two of them, both from Myanmar, died.

Leptospirosis is commonly transmitted by allowing water that has been contaminated by animal urine to come into contact with unhealed breaks in the skin, eyes or mucous membranes.

Abdul Rahman said it had yet to be ascertained how the inmates at the depot contracted the disease and that the department was waiting for the post-mortem reports.

He said the quality of food and services at the depot met the stipulated standards and requirements, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, no new cases had been reported.

He said there were 553 illegal immigrants detained at the Juru depot, with 26 of them down with leptospirosis, including two deaths.

The remaining 24 people still in hospital comprised 22 Myanmar nationals and the others, from Bangladesh.

They were reported to be in stable condition, he added.

In a related development, Abdul Rahman said the department had requested the assistance of the Myanmar Embassy to make the necessary funeral arrangements for the two Myanmar nationals -- Thang Hoih Ping, 21, and Sa La Hian, 26, -- who died from the disease on May 12 and May 17, respectively, at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital.

The department had sent a letter to the Myanmar Embassy to inform them about the death of their citizens, he said, adding that the bodies of the two Myanmar nationals were still at the Bukit Mertajam mortuary.

-- BERNAMA

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/state_news/news.php?id=412068&cat=st
Southern Region News
May 19, 2009 11:09 AM

Melaka Declared Free Of Meningitis

MELAKA, May 19 (Bernama) -- Melaka was today declared free of meningitis as there are no more patients undergoing treatment for the disease at the Melaka Hospital.

State women affairs, health and family development committee chairman Norpipah Abdol said three remaining patients, comprising trainees of the Road Transport Department Academy, who were treated at the hospital's isolation ward, were discharged at 8am today.

"Four other trainees treated at the same ward were allowed to go home yesterday," she told reporters at the hospital today.

Also present was state Health Director Dr Ghazali Othman.

A trainee died of the disease at the Melaka Hospital on May 4 and a day later, nine trainees were admitted to the hospital due to meningitis.

At one time the number of meningitis patients swelled to 41.

Norpipah said the quarantine order for other trainees at the academy had been withdrawn and all activities resumed as usual.

"The public should no longer worried and should continue with their normal activities and keep on maintaining hygiene," she said.

She thanked the Health Department, doctors and staff at the hospital for acting swiftly in containing the disease.

-- BERNAMA

 

[kiwibird]

Re: Malaysia - Assorted Illnesses April 30, 2009 +

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/...e-leptospirosis-patient-in-critical-condition
Wednesday May 20 2009
Related Articles

* Ministry confirms police trainee died of meningitis in Seremban
* Meningitis outbreak caused by diplococci bacteria
* Meningitis patients responding to treatment

One Leptospirosis patient in critical condition

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 ? One of the nine patients who are being treated for Leptospirosis at two hospitals in Seberang Prai, Penang is reported to be in critical condition.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the patient was now being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

?Seven patients who are being treated at the Isolation Ward, and another in the ICU ward at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital, are in stable condition,? he said in a statement today.

Dr Ismail said only 19 patients who were suffering from Leptospirosis were treated at the Bukit Mertajam and Seberang Jaya Hospitals, with 10 of them being discharged yesterday.

No new cases were recorded up to 8am today.

Meanwhile, on the case of meningitis at the Road Transport Department Academy in Melaka, Dr Ismail said no new cases were admitted to hospital.

As of 8am today, three patients were still being treated at the isolation ward of the Melaka Hospital compared with seven yesterday.

However, the three patients were expected to be discharged today, he said.

As for the Influenza B, Dr Ismail said no new cases involving recruits at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) Jempol in Negeri Sembilan were recorded as at 8 am today.

To date, only four patients were receiving treatment ? three at the Jempol Hospital and the other at the Hospital Tuanku Jaafar, Seremban.

?They are reported to be in stable condition,? he added. ? Bernama