Published: Sunday May 17, 2009 MYT 3:50:00 PM
Updated: Sunday May 17, 2009 MYT 8:52:09 PM

Suspected Leptospirosis: 13 discharged from hospital (Update 2)

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry said that 13 of the illegal immigrants from the Juru detention camp, hospitalised for suspected Leptospirosis, have been discharged from hospitals in Penang.

Twenty-three still remain hospitalised, said Health Ministry Director-General Tan Sri Ismail Merican in a statement on Sunday.

He said that of the 23 cases, 22 are in Bukit Mertajam hospital in the isolation ward while one person was in ICU in critical condition.

Another person was in ICU in Seberang Prai Hospital and was in a stable condition.

Leptospirosis outbreaks are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, such as rodents, cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.

People become infected through consumption or contact with urine-contaminated water, food or soil.

On May 12, a 21-year-old detainee from Myanmar died at the Bukit Mertajam hospital of the disease.

There are 552 illegal immigrants in the camp comprising 478 males, 72 females and two male children. The camp has suspended taking in of new inmates. The camp and its compound have been fumigated and disinfected.

Eleven more immigrants from Juru depot admitted for leptospirosis

Leptosprosis kills Myanmar immigrant; 26 hospitalised