The Sarawak Health Department is to conduct a melioidosis awareness programme in the Kapit division to educate the local

community about the disease and stop unnecessary assumptions.

"Melioidosis is not a mysterious disease. It is caused by bacteria found in soil and water," said state health director Dr Zulkifli Jantan.

He said that this year, as at Aug 3, five people had died of the disease, while last year there were 17 deaths.

Meanwhile, Sarawak environment and public health minister Wong Soon Koh advised the people against linking melioidosis with the Bakun hydro project, saying the infection could spread from any land development area such as for agriculture.

He said the first case was detected in 1999 but it was only in 2006 that there was a record of three deaths involving workers at the Bakun project.

"They were foreign workers. We have not received any report of locals who have died of the disease," he said.

- Bernama