Officials baffled by deaths in Tanah Merah

The Star KOTA BARU: Health authorities were scrambling to determine the cause of the acute neurological syndrome (DIL) which has killed two people in the Tanah Merah district.
They have screened 3,925 residents in the district so far, said state Health Department director Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Maher.
He said DIL could be linked to the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus. Initial signs of DIL were fever and vomiting which could later develop into breathing difficulties.
Hasnira Akmar Hussin, 13, who had been warded for DIL, died at 9.15pm yesterday – the second to die from the syndrome.
She had been in a semi-coma (a mild comatose state) since being admitted to the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital here for severe vomiting on Thursday.
Her father Hussin Mustafa, 49, who is self-employed, confirmed her death.
“Her body is to be sent for a post-mortem and we are making funeral arrangements for tomorrow afternoon,” he said at the hospital last night.
Hasnira was among four people suspected of contracting JE brought on by the deadly culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquito.
Blood samples of the four have been sent to the Institute of Medical Research for tests.
Mohd Romli Mohd Zaid, 49, and his daughter, who was not identified, were hospitalised on Monday after complaining of fever and headache. Just four days earlier, Romli’s 13-year-old daughter Siti Mardiana died from DIL complications.
Health authorities have yet to confirm what caused the teenager to die.
Tanah Merah MP Shaari Hassan, who visited the patients at the hospital, said there was still no confirmation if all the four had contracted JE.
Shaari urged families in his parliamentary constituency to cooperate with the authorities.