MALACCA: A total of 20 trainees are still being treated at the Malacca Hospital for Meningococcal Meningitis while 93 of them have been placed under observation at the quarantined Road Transport Department’s training academy in Tiang Dua, Ayer Molek.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that six trainees were warded on Saturday night with another warded this afternoon, bringing the total number of trainees warded at the isolation ward to 18.
He also added that one of the three trainees that was warded in the intensive care unit was moved to the isolation ward on Saturday after recovering following treatment.
“A total of 93 trainees, who are under quarantine at the academy, have been separated from the rest and are under observation by our medical team stationed there,” he said.
An ambulance has also been put on 24-hour standby to rush them to the hospital if the need arose, he told reporters after visiting the trainees at the Malacca Hospital Sunday.
He also said that results of tests carried out to determine the exact type of bacteria responsible for the outbreak would be annouced by him on Monday.
Incubation of the bacteria was carried out at 2am on Sunday at the Sungai Buloh Microbiology Centre.
“The process takes between 14 to 16 hours so we should know by tonight (Sunday) the exact type of bacteria responsible for the meningitis outbreak,” he said.
He stressed that the outbreak was a result of bacterial infection and not viral in nature as speculated by certain quarters.
There should be no speculations from public or anybody saying that it is H1N1 as this has nothing to do with it.
“That is why I am here to clarify today that we are transparent about what is going on at the academy and the hospital and that the outbreak is being handled accordingly,” he said.
Asked when the quarantine would be lifted at the academy, Liow said the quarantine period would usually last for seven days beginning May 7.
They can be released if they show no symptoms or signs of infection, he added.
Meningococcal Meningitis has an incubation period of between four to seven days and can be prevented and treated using Prophylaxis antibiotic treatment. (Cyprofloxacin and Ceftriaxone)
The meningitis outbreak at the academy was detected on May 7 when nine trainees were referred to the hospital here after they complained of fever, cough, headaches, and joint pains.
On May 4, trainee Mohd Hafiz Zainudin, 24, from Kota Baru, Kelantan, succumbed to the infection while being rushed to the hospital here.
Another trainee from Penang was initially warded at the intensive care unit at Bukit Mertajam Hospital when he returned home for the Labour Day break but is currently recovering at the Kepala Batas Hospital.
According to ministrys director general of health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican, 334 trainees and the 115 staff are currently under general quarantine at the academy here.
