EARLIER this week, a video went viral on social media and it was claimed in the video that about 80 diarrhoea cases in a day were recorded in Sri Tanjong, Tawau.
Is this claim true?
VERDICT:
FALSE
In a statement on Wednesday (Oct 5), state Health director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin said the Tawau health office initially received a notification of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) cases on Sept 26 from two private clinics.
She said 22 cases were reported, with patients showing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach ache.
Dr Rose Nani added that the initial investigation found that the cases involved patients from different housing estates, and all cases were treated as outpatients.
“From Sept 26 until Oct 1, the cumulative cases reported were at 85. The situation is under control and no new cases have been registered since Sunday (Oct 2).
“Thorough investigations on the cases and surrounding areas including an ice factory have been conducted, and the Tawau health office has also conducted laboratory testing on stool, water and ice samples to identify the cause of infection.
“The 19 stool samples from cases have shown negative results of microorganism presence, while investigations at the ice factory site also found hygiene levels satisfactory.
“Meanwhile, the district health office today also found the water condition at the housing areas involved to be clear and in-situ testing at several houses found no breach in clarity, chlorine, pH and temperature parameters,” she said in the statement issued on the Sabah Health Department Facebook page.
