KOTA BARU: A military officer died of “rat urine infection”, or leptospirosis, at Tanah Merah Hospital on Wednesday, after having contracted the bacteria outside the state, said the Kelantan Health Department (JKNK).
Its director, Datuk Dr Ahmad Razin Ahmad Mahir, said the case was not related to the recent rat urine cluster outbreak at Panglima Bayu, Tanah Merah, which led to the death of a 59-year-old man.
"The 39-year-old corporal had symptoms of fever, diarrhea and shortness of breath, beginning Feb 8, before leaving Bayan Lepas Military Camp in Penang for Kelantan," he said.
Dr Ahmad Razin added that on Feb 12, the victim sought treatment at the Tanah Merah Health Clinic, before being referred to the Tanah Merah Hospital.
The victim was admitted to the Emergency Ward and was diagnosed with severe leptospirosis and pulmonary haemorrhage before he died on Wednesday night, he said.
Dr Ahmad Razin said from Jan 1 to Feb 1, the victim was assigned to the Gerik and Titiwangsa forests, and from Feb 2 to 7, he was at the Bayan Lepas Military Camp.
"The victim only left for Kelantan on Feb 8, and by then, he was already showing symptoms of the bacterial disease.
"As such, we conclude the source of infection was not in Kelantan and it has nothing to do with the recent Panglima Bayu, Tanah Merah case," he said.
Meanwhile, the victim's father-in-law, Ismail Yusoff, 58, said his son-in-law is survived by a wife, who is now three months pregnant, and an 11-year-old daughter.
"We did not expect him to leave us so soon, as we thought he was just having a fever before he was admitted to the hospital," he said. -- Bernama