TWO BABIES DEAD, 2,236 PEOPLE BELIEVED TO HAVE CONTRACTED ROTAVIRUS

TAPAH, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Two babies have died and 2,236 inhabitants of

Hilir Perak and Batang Padang are believed to have contracted a virus known as

Rotavirus which causes Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE).

State Health, Local Government, Consumer Affairs, Environment, Transport

and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said AGE has

been detected in Tapah and Bidor, Batang Padang.

Speaking to reporters at the Tapah Health Clinic here today, he said the

affected areas in Hilir Perak were Hutan Melintang, Teluk Intan, Chenderong

Balai and Langkap.

The symptoms in most cases were diarrhoea and vomiting with the majority of

patients receiving outpatient treatment only, he added.

Since Jan 27 to date, 2,236 AGE cases have been diagnosed in the two

districts with Hilir Perak recording 1,397 cases and Batang Padang, 839.

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DEATHS-ROTAVIRUS 2 (LAST) TAPAH

Dr Mah said the viral attack was believed to be water-borne and from

contaminated food and the state Health Department was carrying out a detailed

study on the matter, with the help of Medical Research Institute and National

Public Health Laboratory.

Although the number of cases have dropped since last week, he advised people

to take precautionary steps to prevent further spread of the virus.

"Among the most effective steps are to boil drinking water, wash hands with

soap before and after meals, before preparing food and after going to the

toilet," he said.

He urged those experiencing symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting,

nausea, stomach ache, and headache and loss of appetite to immediately seek

treatment at the nearest clinic or hospital.

-- BERNAMA

ZAZ PA