Cholera In Selangor, Careful When Drinking Water, KKM Says
A 56-year-old was infected with cholera then later recovered after receiving treatment.
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The Health Ministry (KKM) has given out warnings to the public over the weekend on the dangers of cholera after the Petaling Health District discovered one case.
Selangor State Health Department mentioned that the case was reported on 21 October 2021, involving a 56-year-old patient.
The state’s Health DG Datuk Dr. Sha’ari Ngadiman said in a statement that the results of the investigation found that she experienced severe diarrhea symptoms and had sought treatment on the same day at a private diarrhea facility.
The case was treated as an outpatient and stool samples were taken for testing. Test results from the National Public Health Laboratory showed the presence of Vibrio Cholerae bacteria, serogroup 01, Ogawa serotype. Subsequently, all close contacts were screened including the food handlers involved. Environmental sampling was also conducted.
Selangor Health DG Datuk Dr. Sha’ari Ngadiman
To date, he said, no additional positive cases of Cholera have been detected and the patient was also completely cured after receiving proper treatment.
Further investigations have been conducted thoroughly however we have not been able to identify the cause of the infection and no new cases have been received so far. Therefore, in line with the MOH’s recommendation, the Selangor State Health Department would like to emphasize that cholera can spread quickly and can cause death if not treated immediately.
Selangor Health DG Datuk Dr. Sha’ari Ngadiman
The public is urged to:
- drink treated or boiled water.
- practice personal hygiene and always wash their hands.
- do not eat raw or uncooked food. (sorry sushi lovers)
One is advised to seek immediate medical attention if they’ve experienced diarrhea.
The Selangor State Health Department will always monitor the current situation in the state of Selangor to curb any possible spread of cholera.
Selangor Health DG Datuk Dr. Sha’ari Ngadiman
Meanwhile, KKM Minister Khairy Jamaluddin tweeted about the incident over the weekend, advising the public to be mindful of what they consume.
Jabatan Kesihatan Selangor telah mengesan satu kes kolera di daerah Petaling, Selangor. Orang awam dinasihati hanya minum air dirawat/dididihkan, jaga kebersihan kendiri, jangan makan makanan mentah/tidak dimasak sempurna. Maklumat lanjut disusuli.
— Khairy Jamaluddin 🇲🇾🌺 (@Khairykj) November 14, 2021
What is cholera?
According to KKM, cholera is one of the major water and food-borne diseases that’s caused by the Vibrio cholera bacteria.
Those who are infected will experience diarrhea and severe symptoms can be fatal due to severe dehydration.
KKM also mentioned that infections happen through ingestion of food or water contaminated with feces or vomit of an infected person.
They also mentioned that the incubation period would last from several hours to 5 days.
Cholera is more likely to spread in areas that do not have a clean water supply and adequate toilet facilities. Cholera outbreaks also exist seasonally in endemic areas of Asia and Africa.
Health Ministry
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