Death in campus: Health authorities monitoring meningitis outbreak

comments     Claudia Theophilus     Published     Updated

The Health Ministry has deployed an investigation and health control team to monitor the situation in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Selangor, following the recent death of two students after contracting meningitis.

Health director-general Dr Mohamad Taha Arif, in a statement issued late today, said the team is keeping track of cases at the university's health centre and the nearby Kajang hospital, located about 20 minutes' drive away.

He was referring to the death of third-year computer science student Loy Cheah Kee on June 27 and third-year diploma in agriculture student D Thiyagarajan two days later. Both died in their rented homes in Taman Bukit Serdang and Taman Balakong Jaya respectively.

Loy, 23, hails from Alor Setar, Kedah, while Thiyagarajan, 23, is from Mentakab, Pahang.

Taha said a detailed investigation has been carried out on the two cases and their contacts, who have been identified and have had preventive measures carried out on them.

"These measures include throat swabs on all their contacts and chemoprophylaxis (antibiotic therapy for prevention) for them.

"Those who felt ill were referred to the hospital and have since been discharged after confirming that they have not been infected."

Fever, nausea, headache

Taha explained that meningococcal meningitis was a type of infectious disease caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis which spreads via an infected patient's oral droplets and nose.

"The incubation period is between three and four days. Those infected will experience fever, nausea, intense headache and stiffness of neck."

All contacts and students in the vicinity have been educated on maintaining good personal hygiene, he added.

Taha said the students have been advised to avoid crowded areas and seek immediate treatment from the campus' health centre if they felt ill or developed any of the above symptoms.



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