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Johor chemical pollution: 47 victims affected, 2 hospitalised

JOHOR BARU: The chemical stench in the district has affected 47 victims with 10 seeking medical help at hospitals, and two still hospitalised, as of yesterday.

The victims were from Tebrau, Skudai, and Senai, in Johor Baru, and another from Kota Tinggi.

State Health and Environment Committee Chairman Ling Tian Soon said within 24 hours yesterday, 47 victims developed various air pollution symptoms but only 10 sought treatment at government and private clinics.

Three were initially hospitalised but two victims were discharged last night, he said.

They were a pregnant woman at the Sultan Ismail Hospital and a primary schoolboy at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital who were discharged at 4pm yesterday, said Ling.

However, there was an earlier patient who had developed several symptoms believed related to the air pollution and that person is still warded.

The two hospitalised victims were in stable condition, he said.

Ling added that the Disaster Management Committee taskforce members were on high alert and were monitoring affected areas in the district and Kota Tinggi.

"Rivers and areas where the stench was detected are being monitored while the air quality is under periodic checks for any contamination," he said today.

Earlier, Ling was quoted as saying cleanup operations were in progress in areas where chemical waste was detected.

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