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Meningitis: Public advised not to rush for
vaccination
KUALA LUMPUR, July 17:
The Health Ministry has advised the public
against rushing to be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis
because the disease has been
contained.
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Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohamad Taha Arif said
however, the public should seek immediate treatment if they suffered
from high fever, severe headache, stiff neck and, in some cases,
nausea and vomiting.
"It is safe to say that the disease has been curbed as, to date, there
are no further cases reported," he said. He said the only death from
the disease so far was that of Universiti Putra Malaysia student, D.
Thiyagarajan, on June 29.
On insufficient supply of vaccine due to the sudden demand, he said
the ministry had supplies only for Haj pilgrims who were required to
be vaccinated against the disease by the Saudi Arabian Government.
Dr Mohamad Taha was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing
of a memorandum of under-standing between the Malaysian Medical
Association, Association of Private Hospitals and Medical Online Sdn
Bhd, to enhance seamless medical care between patients and medical
service providers.
In Skudai, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia vice-chancellor Datuk Prof
Mohd Zulkifli Mohd Ghazali said the university was waiting for word
from Health Ministry on the next course of action, which might include
inoculating its students.
"If parents are overly concerned for the safety of their children,
then they can have their children vaccinated. But we will wait for the
ministry to propose additional measures to check the spread of the
disease," he said.
Zulkifli was speaking at a Press conference on UTM's 29th Convocation
today. Also present was the university's health centre director Dr
Ismail Ahmad.
"Students wishing to have themselves inoculated out of fear can do so,
but will have to pay the full price of the vaccine as the university
will not subsidise the cost," Dr Ismail said.
On Friday, Kasnita Mohd Kassim, 29, a first year UiTM mass
communications student, died at the Tengku Rahimah Hospital in Klang
at about 12.45pm of meningoencephalitis.
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