Materia Medica Malaysiana

Sarawak Health Dept Told To Prepare Report On Measles

KUCHING, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Health Department will be asked to submit a detailed report to the state government in the near future on the measles outbreak in the Penan settlement.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri George Chan said it would enable the government to get a clearer picture on the outbreak and to identify steps that could be taken to help the affected community.
"I would ask the Medical Department to give full briefing on the outbreak and on what needs to be done. If there is any need for them to be assisted, obviously the state government will come up with the fund needed," he said.
He said this to reporters when asked on steps taken by the government to help the community affected by the outbreak.
The measles outbreak was detected in a Penan settlement in Long Urun in Belaga since last December and had killed 13 children and one adult.
Chan, who is State Disaster Relief Management Committee Chairman, said the latest cases involved a one-and-a-half-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy who were admitted to a hospital Tuesday.
The two victims were from Long Menapa, not far from Long Urun, he said.
"The cumulative total admitted to the hospital since day one of the outbreak is now 121 people, but only five remain in ward," he said.