Diphtheria scare: Checks on 40 people in Malacca

This follows the death of a girl from the disease and discovery that two of her siblings had tested positive.

MELAKA: More than 40 people in close contacts with a girl who died of diphtheria in Malacca last Saturday were checked for the disease, said state Health director Dr Ghazali Othman.

He said based on the results, two of the deceased’s siblings were tested positive for the disease while other tests showed negative.

“The (two) siblings were brought to Malacca Hospital for further treatment. They were in good condition with no complications due to the disease.

“Apart from (the deceased’s) family members, we will also carry out checks on her friends and at the school,” he told reporters outside the Malacca State Assembly Hall here today.

Ghazali said initial investigations on the seven-year old girl from Ujong Pasir revealed that she began to contract the disease on June 10, before she was taken to the same hospital on June 17.

“She was found to have suffered from diphtheria complication when she was taken to Malacca Hospital, possibly because of the delay in getting treatment.

“Maybe initially it (the symptoms) looked like normal fever or sore throat, which can be treated at home,” he said.

– BERNAMA