KUCHING: A total of 48 cases of measles were recorded in Bintulu from April 13 to May 21 this year.
Sarawak Health Department Director Dr Jamilah Hashim said of the total, 19 cases were epidemic while the rest were sporadic (single) cases.
She said it involved eight areas comprising residential areas, workers quarters at sawmills and kindergartens.
“Of the 48 cases detected in Bintulu, 20 cases (41.67 percent) involved children under the age of seven, 43 cases (89.58 pe cent) did not have measles vaccine injection, 12 cases (27.9 percent) involved babies under six months who are not eligible for the injection, six cases (13.9 percent) never have vaccine injection and 25 cases (58.1 percent) the immunisation status is not known,” she said in a statement here yesterday.
To date, she said, 22,414 people were screened and 675 were vaccinated while a kindergarten was ordered to close for a week until May 21.
“The Sarawak Health Department will continue to carry out programmes to control the disease in identified areas. People are advised to seek medical attention or treatment if they have symptoms like fever, rashes, cough, running nose and conjunctivitis.
“Early detection and treatment will prevent the disease from spreading to others and avoid complications,” Dr Jamilah added. – BERNAMA
