Checks conducted by the Perak health department on a report which claimed many Orang Asli children in Kampung Bunga Hilir, Belum, died due to oral thrush found it not true, said its director Dr Juita Ghazalie.

"The newspaper report which said 200 Orang Asli children in the village died is impossible. The figure 200 is too big and we can't even find any evidence on it," she told Bernama in Kuala Lumpur today.

She said following a report on the death of an eight-year-old Orang Asli girl of oral thrush, a health team was sent to the village to investigate.

"The victim's father told the health team that her daughter had fever and there were white and red spots in her mouth.

"After discussing the matter with the health team, we conclude that it could be herpangina, a type of mouth ulcer caused by the coxsackie virus," she added.

Dr Juita said herpangina is not a mysterious disease as was reported, but contagious without good oral hygiene.

Asked how the girl died due to the disease, she said, it could be due to delay in getting treatment and the ulcer exposed to secondary infection.

"Apart from that, the disease also caused children to have problems eating and drinking, and this result in shortage of water in the body," she added.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) acting chairperson Khaw Lake Tee, in a statement today, said more proactive efforts and measures should be taken by the Health Ministry and the Orang Asli development department, also known as Jakoa, to educate the Orang Asli on health issues.

- Bernama