Sunday May 10, 2009
Academy staff and trainees given antibiotics
KUALA LUMPUR: Trainees and staff at the Road Transport Department academy in Tiang Dua, Malacca, have been administered with antibiotic prophylaxis — a measure taken to maintain health and prevent the spread of meningitis.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that the outbreak at the academy has been contained.
A medical team, which included a specialist, from the Health Ministry has been sent to the academy to tackle the issue.
Liow said the 24-year-old trainee who died on May 4 might have contracted the disease in Kelantan.
“It is possible. The students went back to their hometown on May 1, and returned to the training centre on May 3.
“Anyone with fever, headache and joint aches should see a doctor promptly as the disease is treatable if detected early,” he told reporters.
He added there was no outbreak in Kelantan, which was believed to be the last place the dead trainee was before he returned to the academy in Malacca.
“There is no outbreak in Kelantan, so the carrier might be this boy. When this bacteria attacks, you will usually have symptoms.
“The medical team is tracing the source,” he said.
Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said tissue samples taken from the dead trainee and those hospitalised showed that that the outbreak was not caused by a virus and had no connection to the influenza A (H1N1).
Meanwhile, Malacca state health director Dr Ghazali Othman said health authorities in Kelantan, Penang, Johor and Negri Sembilan were trying to determine the source of the infection.
“Based on response to the treatment given to the hospitalised trainees, it is very likely the trainees suffered bacterial meningitis.
“However, we are not ruling out the possibility of a mixture of both bacteria and virus as the cause of the infection,” he said.
Dr Ghazali said those warded for treatment had shown signs of improvement and recovery.
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