P Vivax Malaria outbreak in Orang Asli village in Kuala Lipis - source

Nine Orang Asli suspected of having Plasmodium Vivax Malaria at Pos Lenjang in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, have been hospitalised since yesterday.

A source told Malaysiakini that more than 10 Arang Asli villagers fell ill yesterday, but so far only nine were warded.

"This is the most dangerous kind of Malaria. The disease had been contained in the past but the new outbreak shows that it has returned and is now affecting Orang Asli in Pos Lenjang," said the source.

Malaysiakini is attempting to get verification from the Health Ministry on the new development.

In April, a "mysterious illness" claimed the lives of 13 residents of the Bateq Tribe Orang Asli community in Kuala Koh, Kelantan.

To date, 15 people were reportedly died due to the illness.

The Health ministry had recently identified measles as the disease plaguing the community but said that authorities are still investigating the matter.

NGO Centre for Orang Asli Concerns said the root of the problem was the destruction of the community's natural habitat.

[More to come] - Mkini