Spectre of disease looms although worst of floods over

PETALING JAYA: Although the worst of the east coast floods are over, residents in devastated areas now face the risk of contracting dangerous or deadly diseases.

The Health Ministry, anticipating an increase in diseases such as leptospirosis and melioidosis, is performing regular screenings at health and relief centres.

“Medical teams are visiting flood relief centres daily,” ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in an e-mail interview.

The ministry, he added, would also conduct inspections to ensure clean water supply and food for evacuees, and that no flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes or rodents were present.

Dr Noor Hisham noted that the diseases the ministry was on the lookout for were acute gastroenteritis, cholera, typhoid, leptospirosis and melioidosis (an infectious disease caused by a bacterium that can be found in soil and water).

Between Jan 1 and Jan 18, there have been 647 suspected cases of leptospirosis, with 110 cases confirmed, according to the ministry.

Kelantan is the worst-hit, with 458 suspected cases and 49 confirmed cases, while the rest are spread out over Perak, Terengganu and Pahang.

There have also been 20 cases of melioidosis, with 13 in Pahang alone.

“Our main task now will be to detect and treat patients with these diseases early, and at the same time put in place preventive steps,” said Dr Noor Hisham.

The ministry will also be deploying health teams to clean up possible breeding sites for mosquitoes to minimise the risk of dengue or malaria.

“Surveillance will be maintained for at least two months as some of the diseases have a long incubation period,” he added.

Residents and volunteers involved in clean-up activities have been urged to seek treatment if they show signs or symptoms of the diseases.

The ministry has also issued Health Alert Cards to those working in the affected areas.

Dr Noor Hisham reiterated the importance of practising safety measures for disease prevention.

“As the existing water supply might not be as clean as before the floods, students, in particular, are to bring boiled drinking water and food from home,” he said.

“They should also wash their hands before eating or touching their faces.”

Apart from that, residents have been advised to keep their homes, as well as recreational areas and food premises, free from rodents.

“As the spores from certain persistent organisms like melioidosis can survive in dust, residents should refrain from playing in dusty areas,” Dr Noor Hisham said. “They are also advised to put on suitable protective gear, at least a face mask, in affected areas.”