GEORGE TOWN: The two Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases reported in the locality of Sungai Bakap, in the Seberang Prai Selatan district recently, involved two children, aged 2 and 8 respectively.
State Health Department director Dr Asmayani Khalib told the New Straits Times tonight that the younger child, from Kampung Badak Mati, and the older child, from Taman Kuang, were admitted to the Penang Hospital for treatment.
"The older child has since been discharged from hospital while the younger one is still being treated and reported to be in a stable condition," she said.
The NST reported yesterday that Penang recorded two JE cases.
The last case of JE in the state was detected in 2018.
The state Health Department has since placed all health facilities on alert to track down new JE cases, particularly in Sungai Bakap and the Seberang Prai Selatan district, to halt the outbreak.
As of yesterday, Malaysia recorded nine JE cases, with one death.
There were 12 JE cases, with three death during the same period last year.
Elaborating, Dr Asmayani said following control and preventive activities carried out by the Seberang Prai Selatan District Health Office within the locality, they found Culex mosquito breeding grounds, a vector for the JE.
"Of the 4,068 containers checked, 18 were found to be breeding grounds of the Culex mosquito.
"We have since conducted larvaecide spraying. Similarly, we have also conducted fogging at all 1,082 premises within a 2km radius from the two houses where the JE cases were reported.
"At the same time, we have also started active case detection through house-to-house visits within the affected locality. None of the 3,806 residents there were found to display any JE symptoms," she added.
Swines and wild birds, Dr Asmayani said, were "natural reservoirs" of the JE virus, which is a mosquito-borne disease.
As such, she added, with the help from the state Veterinary Services Department, they had inspected eight swine farms, three of which are located within a 1.5km radius from the two houses where the JE cases were reported.
"We have taken samples from the swines for testing to detect the JE virus.
"Our advice to the farm operators is to adopt the Good Animal Husbandry Practice to increase cleanliness at their farms and to ensure they are free from breeding grounds for the Culex mosquito," she said.