Up to 188 cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) involving adults and children were detected in two districts in Perak today, raising to 3,444 the total number of cases since the outbreak late last month.

State Health, Local Government, Consumer Affairs, Environment, Public Transport and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairperson Dr Mah Hang Soon said 114 of the fresh cases were detected in the Hilir Perak district and 74 in Batang Padang.

“Six people were admitted to hospital in Hilir Perak and three in Batang Padang,” he said when contacted by Bernama. The total number of cases in Hilir Perak so far is 2,220 and in Batang Padang, 1,224.

Two infants, aged two months and 10 months respectively, died in Hilir Perak on Feb 10 after it is believed they were infected by Rotavirus which causes AGE.

Dr Mah said 94 samples of stool were taken for tests and it was found that 59 of them contained Rotavirus, 10 did not and the remaining 25 were still under analysis.

“So far, nine samples of water tested with the electron microscope showed up negative while 14 were undergoing tests,” he said.

Dr Mah advised the people to refrain from eating raw salad, to boil drinking water and to wash hands with soap and clean water before and after eating.

- Bernama