KUALA LUMPUR: The number of people hospitalised with suspected meningitis in Malacca Hospital rose to 38 on Tuesday from 31 the day before.
This brings the number hospitalised nationwide to 39. One trainee is hospitalised in Kepala Batas.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that four of the new patients who developed symptoms were trainees who had been quarantined at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) academy hostel in Tiang Dua, Malacca.
However, two of the new patients were radiographers and another was the fiancee of one of the trainees, he said.
All of them were in the isolation ward while the two trainees in Intensive Care Unit were now able to walk.
The trainee hospitalised in Kepala Batas is in stable condition.
One of the trainees, who returned on holiday to Kelantan, was hospitalised there with fever on May 1 and died on May 4, triggering the quarantine of all the trainees at the academy.
Liow said laboratory tests revealed that the bacteria causing the meningitis was meningococcus.
“The source of infection has not been discovered and we are working hard to find the carrier,” he said Tuesday after the International Nurses Day celebration.
On whether the family members of the fiancee of one of the trainees needed to be quarantined, Liow said the Ministry would find out if they had been in contact.
“If the fiancee was not in contact with the family, there was no need for them to be quarantined,” he said.
On the A(H1N1) influenza, Liow said with more countries being affected, the pressure on Malaysia was great in keeping its borders in check.
“We must be prepared to face this outbreak with real care,” he said adding that the Government had stocked up enough Tamiflu in the event the flu hit Malaysia.
Thailand has already detected one case of the flu.
Liow also said that Malaysia must brace itself for a long term battle with the A(H1N1) infection.
On whether pigs should be vaccinated, Liow said the Ministry left it to the Veterinerary Department to decide.
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