MIRI: The Health Department Miri will continue to screen patients suspected of having melioidosis and leptospirosis, although no new cases were reported in the division except for one case in February.
Miri Divisional Medical Officer Dr Faizul Mansor said, “So far we only have one case in February this year, but we did a lot of screening on patients suspected to have the two diseases.”
He was asked on the latest situation in Miri on melioidosis and leptospirosis, the tropical diseases caused by bacteria found in soil and water currently affecting the people in and around the Bakun Hydro Electric Dam.
Dr Faizul meanwhile advised the people not to be complacent eventhough they are not in the affected areas, adding that both diseases, which are common in this part of the world, can affect anyone who do not take extra precautions.
“When you are in the jungle you must not assume that you can drink stream water. Drinking water needs to be boiled because water could be contaminated eventhough it looks clean.
“Rats upstream could easily contaminate the water,” he explained.
Besides, he said, it is also imperative that the people practise high personal hygiene, adding that those who have cuts on their hands could also get infected if they use them to dig into the ground that is contaminated with the bacteria.
Meanwhile, Minister of Land Development Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing, who on Wednesday called for foreign medical experts to study the problem of melioidosis and leptospirosis, said 35 cases were reported in Sarawak with five deaths from Jan 1 to Aug 3.
Kapit has the most number of melioidosis cases in the state followed by Belaga.
Last year there were 343 cases involving 17 deaths.
Melioidosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei that can be found in contaminated or polluted soil and water.
The disease infects humans or animals through contact with contaminated source, drinking contaminated water or through open wounds.