Materia Medica Malaysiana

Families worried over dengue cases

A neighbourhood in Pandan Jaya has become a breeding ground for aedes mosquitoes where many cases of haemorrhagic fever have been detected.
Today, teacher Mohd Sabri Mahamud, 38, and his neighbour M. Jayamala, 19, were admitted at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (KLH) and a private hospital after bouts of high fever and vomiting.
Relatives said doctors suspected that the two had dengue.
Another resident Rosidah Omar, 35, said she had been down with fever for the past six days and was required to undergo daily checks at KLH for the past four days.
She said from her neck down she was covered with tiny red dots after a bout of fever.
Others who were down with fever today included Mohd Asri Mohd Isa, 38, a driver attached to the Prime Minister's office, his son Muhamad Hazim, 13, and three of Jayamala's siblings.
Asri said he was asked to get a second check at the KLH tonight after seeking treatment yesterday.
"This concerns us as the fever cases have become too frequent in our area. This cannot be mere coincidence," he said.
He added that a neighbour died of haemorrhagic fever about three months ago.
He said a few other neighbours also had high fever and were diagnosed as suffering from dengue after they sought treatment at hospitals recently.
His neighbour Nor Aishah Ali, 33, who is a teacher, said she was hospitalised for one week at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital a fortnight ago.
Another resident Mohd Sabri Mat Nor, 27, said his sister was warded for four days at KLH for dengue last week and she has since recovered.
The neighbours claimed that the source of the problem was a clogged drain and a thick undergrowth behind the flats.
They said the local authorities have done little to clear the area.