Dr Jerip Susil
MIRI: The people here are rest assured that there is no cholera outbreak in the city.
This was confirmed by Assistant Minister of Public Health Dr Jerip Susil when contacted yesterday.
“I have checked with Miri Hospital and there is no report, not even a single case so far.
“But should there be any suspected case, we will conduct a surveillance,” he assured.
Dr Jerip was asked to comment after the public called The Borneo Post office here recently, claiming some cholera cases were reported in the city.
“The complaints are invalid. There was no such outbreak,” he reiterated.
He said as of now, the outbreak was detected only in Bintulu.
It is believed to have started when three groups of regatta participants from Gawan longhouse, Kampung Jepak and Kampung Hilir in Sebauh, Bintulu used water from Kemena River which contained the cholera bacteria for cooking and washing utensils.
But the situation has been contained.
Dr Jerip said they were working closely with the local health authorities to monitor the situation in Miri and ensure it was free from the disease.
He advised the public to be on the alert at all times and practise personal hygiene as a pre-emptive measure.
Those in rural areas who depend on riverwater must boil it for consumption and daily needs. And for washing purposes, ensure the water used is clean.