On April 4th, The Star reported HERE that:
The Police Training Academy (Pulapol) in Kuala Lumpur is now free from the adenovirus infection, which resulted in three deaths last month.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said no new cases were reported since March 19 but he urged the authorities to ensure the academy was kept clean to prevent future outbreaks.
“Apart from cleanliness, the authorities at Pulapol must make sure the ventilation system is in good working condition,” he told reporters after opening a 1Malaysia mobile clinic at SK Kampung Kudong in Bekok, near here, yesterday.
Adenovirus infections commonly cause illness of the respiratory system, with symptoms ranging from the common cold to pneumonia, croup (hoarse cough) and bronchitis.
Three police trainees Azizan Aziz, 25, Redzuan Ishak, 26, and Mohamed Siman, 23 died from the infection between March 17 and March 29.
Today, The Star reported HERE that:
PUTRAJAYA: Eleven Port Dickson Pulapol trainees are being treated for adenovirus infection and A(H1N1), said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
Six are being treated for the adenovirus infection and another five for A(H1N1), while another 98 trainees have been isolated at the centre for further observation, he added.
"Both these viruses have caused influenza-life illness (ILI) in the 11 trainees but they are all in stable condition," he said after the ministry's monthly gathering here Tuesday.
Liow said the first eight cases were given outpatient treatment at a Port Dickson clinic after they were detected with ILI on March 31.
Another three were warded at the Port Dickson Hospital on Monday, he said.
Liow said a directive had been sent all other police training centres to remind them to keep the premises clean and ventilation flowing well. He added that anyone showing the flu symptoms - fever, coughing, flu and body aches in some patients - should practice good cough and hygiene etiquette by staying away from crowds.
What is more shocking is this BERNAMA report:
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did not dismiss the possibilities that the Adenovirus breakout at the Army Basic Training Centre (Pusasda) in Port Dickson could have originated from the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Kuala Lumpur.
He said the virus might have been passed through a Pulapol officer visiting the Pusasda in Telok Kemang.
"Although the officer did not communicate directly with trainees in Pusasda, the bacteria could have been present on his body and clothes," he told a news conference after attending the Defence Ministry's monthly assembly in Wisma Kementah, here Tuesday.
He said the Malaysian Armed Forces and Health Ministry are still looking for the individual concerned.
Ahmad Zahid said several immediate measures had been taken to prevent the virus from spreading which included putting the trainees on quarantine and stationing medical officers from the Tuanku Mizan Military Hospital to monitor the situation daily.
Meanwhile, in PUTRAJAYA, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said 11 Pulapol trainees based at the Teluk Kemang Pusasda, Negeri Sembilan, were warded at the Port Dickson Hospital due to Adenovirus and H1N1 since March 31.
He said 93 others were quarantined at the camp to ensure the virus did not affect other trainees, but assured that they were all in stable condition.
Liow was speaking at a news conference after attending the ministry's monthly assembly.
He said the ministry had instructed all training centres, including the police and National Service Training Centres, to emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene.
"We must improve health and cleanliness levels because the virus spreads quickly. The public is reminded to be cautious when in big groups. There is a proper way to cough," he said.
The Adenovirus infection claimed the lives of three police trainees at Pulapol in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur last month. The centre has since been declared free of the virus.
Pusasda has about 1,000 male trainees.
I believe the Health Ministry MUST DO MORE THAN just issuing directives to maintain clean premises with good foundation etc as outlined in the above report.
This new development shows that they have NOT DONE ENOUGH to contain the problem!
I feel for the family members of those in the police training centres and more importantly, for the family and loved ones of the victims.
The Health Ministry MUST:
1. Conduct a thorough investigation to determine health standards at all centres.
2. Do more than a repeated emphasis on clean premises and good ventilation? Shouldn't ANY area be clean and well ventilated? Who is in charge of the maintenance of the premises?
3. Find the source of the virus and how it spread.
The latest development is scary to say the least. Air-borne diseases can spread very rapidly. To think that they had already quarantined the affected ones. obviously hygiene standards are not up to par (based on the Bernama report today).
I am quite appalled to read that "the Malaysian Armed Forces and Health Ministry are still looking for the individual concerned." Why is it so difficult to look for ONE INDIVIDUAL?
How are they going to deal with the problem?
The public have a right to know and they must tell us why the situation does not seem to be getting better. What went wrong and how will they make it right?
Are they really getting to the bottom of the problem? So far, three have died and let's hope the statistics don't climb! Life is precious so it is really up to the Health Ministry to live up to its name and to fulfil its responsibilities and obligations!
0 comments to Please Tell Us Why
Post a Comment