ALOR SETAR: All victims of an unknown infectious disease which broke out at a privately- owned campsite in Yan, Kedah, have been discharged, except for a 14-year-old student who is still under observation.
Kedah health committee chairman Mansor Zakaria said the situation was under control with no new cases reported.
He clarified that the case only involved seven victims and not 39 as earlier mentioned.
The seven – students and staff of a secondary school in the Kuala Muda district – had attended a private training camp in Yan on or after April 3.
“Based on additional information collected and meetings held with the Kedah Health Department, we have ascertained that only six people were treated as outpatients for various symptoms.
“They were given treatment and allowed to return home.
“A 14-year-old student remains under observation in the hospital but is in stable condition,” he said when contacted yesterday.
Mansor said based on the information by the Health Department, the patients had gone to hospital on April 18 and 19 with symptoms of cold, fever, cough, blisters, vomiting, diarrhoea and rashes.
“We have since visited the privately-owned campsite but could not find anything suspicious.
“From our inspection of the campsite, we found nothing that could cause such symptoms as exhibited by the participants,” he said.
According to Mansor, the camp has been in operation for over 20 years without any issues.
“They have, however, agreed to close for the time being.
“We are awaiting a full report by the Health Department on various test results,” he said.
He urged the public not to be alarmed and assured them that the situation was stable and not as serious as they had earlier thought.
“We will keep updating the public,” he added.
Earlier, health officials in the state were alerted to look out for patients showing symptoms such as cold, fever, cough, blisters, vomiting, diarrhoea and rashes, particularly those linked to a private training facility in Yan.
Medical officers were asked to immediately notify the Kedah Health Department if patients displayed any of the said symptoms.
