'I lost my husband, three children in two weeks'

"I'm very sad. My husband died, three of my children died," says the 50-year-old woman.

Som Ngai (above) is from the Bateq tribe in Kampung Kuala Koh, Gua Musang and her life has been shattered following the death of four family members in rapid succession at the beginning of last month.

Her husband, Hamdan Keladi and three children - Laila, Romi and Din in their 20s - died within approximately two weeks following an illness that has yet to be identified.

Som said her husband and children suffered from fevers, headaches, vomiting and loss of appetite before they died.

"The whole body was blistering and hot, headache, they had bad vomiting and were unable to eat."

"That's what my husband experienced. My husband and three children died," said Som, who received assistance given out by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who visited the Aring 10 Fingertip Operation Centre at Gua Musang, today.

Since early May, 14 Bateq tribespeople have been reported dead with Som's family being particularly hard hit.

Som, who had seven children, said she did not expect to lose so many family members within two weeks.

"It started with my husband who was sick and died on May 5. This was followed just a few days later on May 8, when two of my children died on the same day, Laila at 8am and Romi at 4pm," said Som.

"Finally on May 22, another son, Din, died, Din. I am still so sad, imagining the pain and suffering of my husband and children.

"I can not do anything, even cooking and cleaning. I was so sorry to see their condition. Just lying and unable to eat or drink," she added.

Som said that she cannot sleep because she is worried that the mysterious disease will hit other children.

Meanwhile, another of her children is being treated at the Gua Musang Hospital.

Som's son Lan, 20, said he was sad and upset for not meeting his father and siblings who died.

"I went out to the forest for a month before the incident, then some villagers told me about my father and siblings.

"I did not get back (in time) to them before they died," said Lan sadly.

Lan, who gathers honey, expressed his hope that what happened to his family and the other villagers would not persist, and that the cause of the incident could be identified. - Mkini