12-year old Muhammad Ammar Muqrish Zulkifli, Malaysia’s first confirmed case of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in more than 20 years, is expected to be moved to a normal ward in the next two days.
Ammar’s mother, Haniza Ayob, told The Malay Mail‘s Sandeep Chaurley and S Ardullas that he would be moved out of the coronary care unit of Pantai Hospital in Bayan Baru, Penang.
“Sometimes he still gets seizures but they are not as bad as before,” she said.
“He also does not have a fever anymore.”
She did not know, however, when her son would be discharged fully.
“I think it will take a long time for him to get back to school,” she said.
Ammar is believed to have contracted the disease after attending an overnight camp in his school in Kampung Selamat in Tasek Gelugor, Seberang Perai in April.
After complaining of severe headaches, his parents admitted him to Kepala Batas Hospital on May 18. When his condition did not improve, he was moved to the Bayan Baru Pantai Hospital.
The Penang state Health Department continued operations at Kampung Selamat, and Kampung Bagan Jermal to collect water samples from the areas’ stagnant drains and and ponds to detect mosquito larvae.
Japanese Encephalitis is usually transmitted by mosquitoes, but are incubated by pigs.
“It was good that we had heavy rain in the last two days because it helped wash away mosquito larvae,” a Health Department spokesman said.
“But there is also some concern that the rain water will create more stagnant ponds, which then will provide good breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” he said.
The spokesman said fogging by the state Veterinary Department and the Seberang Prai Municipal Council would be carried out in the areas until further notice.
Health officers have collected 186 blood samples from 20 pig farms in Kampung Selamat for laboratory tests.
The tests were proven negative, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced last Friday.
See Also:
12-year old boy in coma from Japanese Encephalitis
Two-year old girl in Penang is second confirmed JE case
Consumers laying off pork after JE scare in Penang
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