Source of Terengganu cholera outbreak identified

2009/11/21

KUALA TERENGGANU: The use of contaminated fish to make crackers, a favourite snack in the state, has been identified as among the sources of cholera outbreak Terengganu, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.
He said that fish samples taken from two cracker factories tested positive for the vibrio cholerae bacteria.

The fish could have been brought in from a neighbouring country through the Chendering fisheries complex which supplied fish to Kuala Terengganu and Marang, he said.

"Samples from raw chickens taken at the Gong Pauh wholesale market in Wakaf Mempelam as well as samples from two ice factories also tested positive for the bacteria," he told reporters after visiting patients at the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital here.

He said that 20 premises comprising 11 ice factories, two cracker factories and the rest eatery outlets, had been ordered closed.

Liow also described the cholera outbreak in the state, which was detected two weeks ago, as serious.

He said that hospitals had been receiving news cases on a daily basis, including 85 people with acute gastroenteritis which were admitted today.
He said that so far 621 patients were admitted due to acute gastroenteritis.

Up to 7am yesterday, 482 patients were still being treated in hospitals, including 22 carriers and 138 tested positive for the disease.

He urged the people not to take cholera for granted as it could result in death and other complications.

Meanwhile, a cholera outbreak is also reported in SEMPORNA, Sabah, but the situation is under control and not alarming, said Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran.

He said that the authorities had taken precautionary measures including closing down the Semporna fish market which was believed to be the place where the outbreak started.

"I was told that so far 18 people are down with cholera in Semporna and they are now recovering in hospitals," he told reporters after visiting the fish market today.

He urged the public to observe hygiene and cooperate with the authorities to prevent the spread of the disease. -- BERNAMA

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