Man dies of suspected pneumonia after family gathering

By SYED AZHAR

KOTA BARU: A family gathering left a government agency officer dead from suspected pneumonia while two others are being warded over an infection.

One of them is now in critical condition and needs respiratory aid at the Tanah Merah Hospital here.

Kelantan health director Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Mahir said 36 others had been told to limit their movements as a precautionary measure.

They were all in Kajang for a family reunion about two weeks ago before the 59-year-old Nasrudin Adam, who was a worker with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda), fell sick.

Dr Ahmad Razin said initial investigations showed that the man died from suspected severe pneumonia.

He said health authorities detected 39 people – 23 from Kelantan, 14 from Selangor and two from Kuala Lumpur – who had attended the gathering.

“The victim from Tanah Merah had diabetes, hypertension and asthma.

“He had complained of feeling unwell with a cough and fever on Jan 28 while in Kajang,” he said, adding that the victim sought treatment on Feb 4 after having difficulty in breathing.

He was referred to the Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II the following day, but died later that evening. “The cause of death is suspected severe pneumonia,” he told reporters at his office here.

On Thursday, it was reported that 40 people were quarantined at the Tanah Merah Hospital after a man died of a suspected viral infection.

But Dr Ahmad Razin said besides those admitted, the rest were allowed to go home.

He said health officers would monitor them and that they were told to avoid public places and take care of their personal hygiene.

“We are still investigating the cause of the infection.”

Dr Ahmad Razin said Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria was suspected to be the possible cause of death.

Klebsiella bacteria is spread through the air and is found in the mouth, skin and intestines.

It can cause pneumonia if inhaled, as well as blood infections via open wounds and meningitis in patients with weakened immunity systems.

Early signs and symptoms include high fever, chills, flu-like symptoms, cough with yellow or bloody mucus and shortness of breath.

Dr Ahmad Razin said the warded patient, a 29-year-old man from Kuala Lumpur, visited the victim on Monday before developing similar symptoms two days later.

Out of the 37 people who were in contact with the victims, 11 showed fever and cough symptoms.

“We have given all the necessary details to our counterparts in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor,” he said.

He said the case was not an epide­mic.