Foreign siblings with whooping cough in isolation — Dr Subramaniam
SUNGAI SIPUT: The two nonMalaysian siblings who are reported to have been infected with whooping cough ( pertussis) in Keningau, Sabah have been put in isolation for two weeks, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam.
He said apart from isolating the patients, aged two years and seven months and 11 months, the health authorities would also conduct immunisation test in the affected area.
“We will test the immunisation status of the people around there
We will test the immunisation status of the people around there and ensure that all of them are vaccinated. Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam, Health Minister
and ensure that all of them are vaccinated.
“We also ensure that these (infected) children are being isolated so that they don’t spread to others until we are confident that the risk of spreading will not be there.
“This will usually take not more than two weeks,” he said after officiating the foundation stone laying ceremony of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil ( SJKT) Heawood here yesterday.
On Saturday, Health directorgeneral Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement, said the siblings who were being treated at the Keningau Hospital had never received immunisation for whooping cough.
Acoording to Dr Noor Hisham, whopping cough is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria and is transmitted through the air during sneezing or coughing and cause inflammation of the mouth, nose and throat.
It can infect everyone but infants and children who are not fully immunised are the most vulnerable. — Bernama