13 illegals discharged

PUTRAJAYA: Thirteen of the illegal immigrants from the Juru detention camp who were hospitalised for suspected leptospirosis have been discharged from hospitals in Penang, said the Health Ministry.

Twenty-three still remain hospitalised, its director-general Tan Sri Ismail Merican said in a statement yesterday.

He said that of the 23 remaining cases, 21 were in the Bukit Mertajam Hospital isolation ward and one person was in the intensive care unit (ICU). Another person was in the ICU at the Seberang Prai Hospital and was in a stable condition.

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.

Well prepared: A Rela member wearing a face mask while guarding one of the illegal immigrant blocks at the Juru detention camp in Bukit Mertajam Sunday.

People become infected through consumption or contact with urine-contaminated water, food or soil.

On May 7, a Myanmar detainee took ill and died five days later of a bacterial infection at the Bukit Mertajam Hospital. Since then 36 others took ill and were hospitalised for treatment.

There are 552 illegal immigrants in the camp comprising 478 males, 72 females and two male children.

The camp and its compound have been fumigated and disinfected.

The camp has also suspended taking in new inmates and no visitors are allowed.