Drop that pigeon droppings contamination idea, says Health Ministry

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry has ruled out the possibility that pigeon droppings was the contaminant that caused vomiting and breathing difficulties in pupils of SK Tanjung Puteri Resort in Pasir Gudang.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said his ministry and the Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Ministry have updated and analysed their findings.

“… without stopping anyone from giving their opinion, until today, we have not found (any correlation to bird droppings).

“We will keep monitoring the situation closely,” he told a press conference after launching the Kurangkan Gula Hidup Sihat (Less Sugar Healthy Lives) campaign at the Giant Hypermarket in Subang Jaya here Thursday (July 25).

He was referring to Johor Health, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar's comment on Tuesday (July 23) that the state was not ruling out the possibility that contamination from bird droppings had caused several episodes of vomiting and breathing difficulties among SK Tanjung Puteri pupils.

Dr Dzulkefly said that his ministry had engaged an independent expert committee to conduct a probe.

“We will compare their findings with ours later, it depends on how soon they can complete it,” he said, adding that the committee’s report is expected to be completed by the end of this month.