The soil-borne disease meliodiosis, reported to be affecting construction workers at the Bakun hydroelectric dam ( below ), had infected as many as 664 nationwide in 2009.

NONE According to Ministry of Health data obtained by Malaysiakini , 2009 saw a tremendous 78.02 percent increase compared to 373 cases in 2008.

Another big jump of 126.45 percent was observed in 2007, with 351 cases compared to the year before.

However, according to a letter from deputy director of public health Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman, the figured may be underreported.

"The data provided is only preliminary data and only refer to cases where patients were hospitalised in public hospitals," he said.

The ministry, however, did not release data for 2010, nor statistics according to states as requested.

More than double the amount of patients were infected with leptospirosis nationwide in 2009 at 1418, a jump of 12.27 percent compared to the 1263 infected in 2008.

Both diseases were made notifiable disease by the Ministry after the death of rescue divers in the Lubuk Yu incident in July.

Under-reporting in Bakun area?

Earlier, Malaysiakini reported that from Jan 1 to July 24 this year, 71 people were admitted for melioidosis in Sarawak.

According to the Sarawak Health Department, 12 were confirmed to be infected, seven were negative and the remainder still awaiting results.

azlan That said, one management personnel at the Bakun project, who requested anonymity, said that he knows of at least nine workers, mostly foreign, who had died from melioidosis.

Residents of Belaga met during the portal's visit there recently also claim that the disease has affected more than reported by the Sarawak Health Department.

In an interview with web TV Bintulu.org , Sarawak Native Customary Land Rights Network president Micheal Mering Jek too claims that his family members and friends were admitted for the disease.

He also noted that there have been complaints that the disease has also struck down longhouse residents.

"This something that is happening, not stories we are making up. There is nothing to hide. Is this because of the dam or is it something which naturally occurs in Belaga and what can we do about it?" he asked.

The bacteria which causes melioidosis is present in water and soil and is endemic to parts of Malaysia, Australia and other countries in South East Asia.

As such, said Universiti Malaya's Dr Savithiri Puthucheary who has been researching melioidosis for decades, it would not be surprising if the exposure was caused by the extensive drilling in construction.