MIRI: Cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) detected in Permyjaya and Pujut areas here has prompted the Medical Department to kick in with census and immunisation programmes on children aged 15 years and below to contain the outbreak.
The department urged people in the affected areas to give full cooperation to its staff carrying out the census and immunisation programmes everyday until the department is assured that there are no more cases there.
“For easy public identification, on weekdays from 8am to 5pm, our staff conducting the programme will bring their working passes and in uniform while on weekend they will be using the department’s corporate t-shirt recognisable with ‘Jabatan Kesihatan Miri’.
During the first round, they only collect data on children 15 years old and below while immunisation will only be carried out during the second and next rounds of the programme,” said a spokesperson of the Medical Department when contacted yesterday. Second round of the immunisation is done between seven to 14 days after the first dose, while the third dose is carried out six months to one year after the second immunisation while the additional immunisation is three years after the third dose.
The programme carried out since last Tuesday (March 3) will cover all households in Bandar Baru Permyjaya-Desa Pujut 1, Desa Pujut 2, Desa Indah 1, Desa Indah 2, Prima Villa and the Pujut squatters (Pujut 5, Pujut 6, Kpg Baru Pujut 7).
Meanwhile, those not at home but with children aged 15 and below who are not immunised during the census period, are urged to contact the department’s Vector Unit at 085-424122 or 085–442161 during office hours.
Alternatively, they should bring their children to the nearest government clinic or hospital for free vaccination. The JE is a type of viral brain infection and is spread through mosquito bite, and affects both animals and human beings. Among the symptoms are body ache, joint-ache, vomiting and nausea and high fever.
The disease can cause death and the most prominent symptom is severe headache. As such, those affected must seek immediate medical treatment at the nearest clinics.