State health dept: 12-year-old boy in Kluang didn't die of heatstroke

The death of a 12-year-old boy in Kluang on Monday was not caused by heat stroke, says Johor Health director Dr Mohtar Pungut @ Ahmad.

He said the child's cause of death was confirmed as septic shock secondary to meningoencephalitis.

"The investigation carried out at the Enche' Besar Hajjah Khalsom Hospital in Kluang found that the child was admitted to the ward because he suffered a seizure after having a high fever the day before and had symptoms of coughing for three days," he said in a statement on the Johor State Health Department's official Facebook page last night.

He said the department expressed its condolences to the family of the victim and requested all parties not to make any speculations that could cause confusion among the public.

Earlier yesterday, the media reported the child's father as saying that his son died at about 7am on Monday, possibly due to a heat stroke.

- Bernama