Eight More Residents Suspected Down With Chikungunya

PANTAI REMIS, April 3 (Bernama) -- Eight people in the fishing village of Bagan Panchur near here are suspected to be infected with Chikungunya, a rare mosquito-borne disease detected two weeks ago.
They were among more than 20 villagers who went for a medical check-up today.
Health Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said all of them had high fever but only two were sent to the Taiping Hospital for further treatment.
He said the health authorities had conducted medical checks on more than 200 residents in the village since last week and found only five suspected cases.
"Four have been discharged while the fifth is under observation for suspected dengue," he told reporters here.
Asked on the possibility of the disease being brought by foreigners working in the village, he said it could be one of the causes but added that it could also be due to the apathy of local residents towards cleanliness.
Lee said the Health Department had sent 25 samples for analysis since the disease was detected in the village.