Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has blamed BN for politicising the three Japanese Encephalitis (JE) cases in Penang, saying it should be treated as “a disease and health issue, not as a racial issue”.

 

He blasted the BN-controlled media for allegedly “racialising” the matter, accusing the newspapers of not publishing prominently the negative test results which was announced by the veterinary department.

 

“BN racist politicians from Umno also politicised it by making irresponsible and baseless statements to fan the issue with racial and religious sentiments,” claimed the DAP secretary-general, in a statement yesterday.

 

“Doctors should be allowed to carry out their work by treating the JE cases as a health issue, focusing on treating the disease instead of being distracted by racial or political considerations,” Lim ( left ) added.

 

On Friday, state executive councillor on health Dr Afif Bahardin lamented the lack of communication between the various state health departments and the Health Ministry which kept him in the dark about the cases although the first two happened in May.

 

The three victims include two-year-and-five-month old Norain Nasuha Shukri from Bagan Jermal and Muhammad Ammar Muqrish Zulkiffli, 12, from Kepala Batas, who are both receiving hospital treatment.

 

The first case, which Penang only knew recently, involved an 18-year-old male youth from Lorong Seratus Tahun in Georgetown, and he is recovering.

 

As of yesterday, no one in Kampung Selamat, Kepala Batas, and Bagan Jermal, Butterworth, have tested positive for JE, according to the State Health Department, which conducted health tests in the areas, according to the Bernama news agency.

 

And Penang heaved a sigh of relief as the Veterinary Services Department declared late Friday that the 181 blood samples taken from 20 piggeries in Kampung Selamat tested negative for Japanese Encephalitis (JE). 

 

Despite this, Penang Umno Youth called for the state government to consider relocating pig farms in Kampung Selamat as a preventive move to curb infectious diseases such as JE.

 

Lim said  JE is caused by mosquitoes active around livestock rearing from cows, ducks, chickens, birds, goats and pigs, Lim noted.

 

He recalled that out of the three JE cases in Penang, two were from George Town and Butterworth where there were no pig farms or livestock rearing.

 

“Despite this, the Veterinary Department should advise all pig, chicken or buffalo farms to tighten their biosecurity measures and ensure cleanliness and proper sanitation in their compounds,” Lim said.

 

“This is to prevent their farms from becoming breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” he added.

 

He urged the Health and Veterinary departments to redouble efforts to investigate the source of the virus, including random tests on livestock rearing, wild fowls and other animals such as pet birds. 

 

“The Health Ministry should also not hide or cover up information but practice full disclosure and transparency by revealing the JE cases in Penang,” he added.

 

“This information should be revealed to the public immediately in the public interest and accountability,” he stressed.