Tuesday, September 28, 2010

News - Area affected by Leptospirosis bacteria in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: The state has banned water activities in three parks after two ponds at the Bukit Panchor State Park in Nibong Tebal tested positive for the leptospirosis bacteria.

Besides the Bukit Panchor State Park, state executive councillor PheeBoon Poh said other parks with ponds cordoned off since Saturday werethe Taman Rimba forest reserve in Teluk Bahang and the Bukit MertajamForestry Park in Cherok Tok Kun.

Phee, who is State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and EnvironmentCommittee chairman, said that water activities at the three areas were shut down after the disease claimed its second victim in Kedah the sameday.

He said another three ponds in the Bukit Panchor State Park tested negative for the bacteria.
"The samples from all ponds in the three parks were sent a month ago to a laboratory in Sungai Buloh. So far, I have only received the water samples' reports from Bukit Panchor," he said in an interview.

However, Phee said there had been no cases of people contracting the bacteria.

"We have also issued an order to all national service camps in the stateto stay away from water activities," he added. It was reported yesterday that a 17-year-old-boy had become the second victim in Kedah to die from leptospirosis.

Symptoms of leptospirosis, which is present in rat urine, can range fromflu-like illness to meningitis, kidney failure, jaundice and bleeding in the lungs.

Source: email


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