Sunday May 17, 2009

13 detainees discharged, infection said to be contained

GEORGE TOWN: Thirteen detainees from the Juru detention camp for illegal immigrants, who were infected with leptospirosis, have been discharged from the Bukit Mertajam Hospital.

State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said 22 remained in hospital while another two are at the Seberang Jaya Hospital.

“The people should not panic as the outbreak was only confined to the camp.

Taking a hard look: Bukit Tengah assemblymen Ong Chin Wen (left), Perkampung Juru committee members K. Kasinathan, Chiam and Jordan Lee discussing about the drainage at the Juru detention camp Saturday.

“We believe the problem will peter out in one or two days,” he said.

On Tuesday, a 21-year-old detainee from Myanmar died of the bacterial infection five days after he was admitted to the Bukit Mertajam Hospital.

Phee said the state health department had checked the food, the water sources and the handlers.

“Fumigation and disinfection were carried out at all four blocks of the camp. And we have exterminated wild animals, mostly rodents, in the surrounding area.”

Phee said the outbreak was the result of ignorance, adding that the department had identified the source and had taken preventive measures.

Leptospirosis outbreaks are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, such as rodents, cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.

People become infected through consumption or contact with urine-contaminated water, food or soil. It does not spread from human to human.

Perkampungan Juru Village Security and Development Committee chairman Chiam Teck Owing, 49, said it was high time the camp was relocated. “The nearest residential area is 30m away from the camp. SJK(C) True Light is just behind it.”

In a separate development, a non-government organisation followed up on Penang’s request to offer free medical services to refugees and immigrants at a premises in Love Lane here yesterday.

Northern Migration and Refugees Network representative Melanie Hurlbut said it would work with volunteer doctors to provide the monthly service in various places.

She said her organisation aimed to reach out to Myanmar Rohingya Muslim refugees and other immigrants, adding that it estimated that about 300 refugees and 50 foreign workers turned up yesterday.