Materia Medica Malaysiana

No Possibility Of Measles Outbreak During CNY Period, Says Dr Soon

SIBU, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- There is no possibility of a measles outbreak in the state during the coming Chinese New Year festival period, Assistant Housing Minister Dr Soon Choon Teck said Monday.
He said that as long as the children and adults had received their immunisation, usually early in their lives, they were not likely to catch the sickness.
There has been fear among the people that the sickness will spread following a lot of movement to other parts of the state of those from the affected areas in Bakun in view of the long holidays ahead.
Speaking to reporters after presenting "angpow" and goodies from Sports Toto Malaysia to about 200 elderly folk here, Dr Soon advised parents who had yet to get their children immunised to visit their nearest clinics immediately.
He believed that the 13 Penan children and an adult who died of the sickness recently could have not received their immunisation due to their nomadic lifestyle and ignorance of health requirements.
Dr Soon meanwhile hoped that the still nomadic ones among the 1,000- odd Penans in the jungles of Kapit, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang Divisions would one day accept efforts to resettle them.
"By doing so, their children will benefit from education, health facilities and generally a better and healthier lifestyle," he said.
He said that although the state government was at present providing the flying doctor service particularly in isolated rural areas and settlements, it could not effectively serve them as it was difficult to locate them when they move around in the vast jungles.