NS camp fever may be airborne, say officials
22 Apr 2006Tan Choe Choe
MALACCA: The number of National Service trainees who have come down with high fever at a camp in Alor Gajah has risen to 94 and health authorities suspect the disease is airborne.
"It’s because the speed in which it spreads is explosive — a large number of people were infected in a matter of days," said deputy State health director Dr Ghazali Othman.
However, he denied that the ailment had anything to do with bird flu, as was feared because a chicken farm was located next door to the Taboh Naning Camp.
"We don’t think bird flu is the case here because if it is a zoonotic disease, it would not jump from human to human so quickly and easily. Parents should not get unduly worried," he said.
It was reported yesterday that 81 trainees had come down with high fever since Monday, with 25 admitted to the Malacca Hospital since Wednesday. The number under quarantine has now reached 69.
They have "acute upper respiratory infection" and besides fever, they also have sore throat and coughs.
Blood samples have been sent to the Institute of Medical Research in Kuala Lumpur and Sungai Buloh Hospital for analysis.
Ghazali said the cause of the disease was still unknown.
He was visiting the quarantined trainees at the camp with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, state deputy Health and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Datuk Abu Pit and NS council members Gan Tian Loo and Kerk Kim Hock yesterday.
Mohd Ali, meanwhile, criticised the camp’s canteen for being "very dirty" as the floor and tables were covered with flies.
"This is unacceptable. I want the Health Department to fine this canteen operator.
"The canteen is so dirty, no wonder the trainees get sick," Mohd Ali said.
On reports that they fell sick after drinking polluted water, he said: "We cannot confirm anything yet. Samples have been taken for testing — let us wait for the report.
"I understand that the people here have been using water that has been stored in the camp tank for over a month. Hence, the water appeared murky," he said.
Meanwhile, some anxious parents waited from morning until afternoon to visit their sick children yesterday.
"I only knew my daughter was sick after I read news reports in the morning. The camp authorities should have informed us earlier — I feared it was bird flu," said an irate Low Kia Khoon, 50.
Raja Noriah, 45, said she was worried after hearing that her daughter had been quarantined at the camp.
She didn’t know how serious the situation was until she heard the news on Thursday evening and checked with the camp yesterday morning.
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