Four-year old girl first case of diphtheria in Perak

The Health Ministry has confirmed the first case of diphtheria in Perak, detected on August 17.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said a four-year-old girl was admitted to Taiping Hospital after complaining of fever, cough and sore throat since Aug 12.

Her throat swaps tested positive for the Corynebacterium diphtheria bacteria, he said.

He said the child had shown mild symptoms because she had received full immunisation for diphtheria before this.

He said the child is recovering and is being treated with antibiotics.

The seven people living with her are not infected so far, he said adding three of the children in the house have been given immunisation.

Dr Noor Hisham said the families living nearby have also been tested and had their throat swaps taken.

Two children from the Kemas pre-school that the child attends have also been coughing but have been voluntarily isolated at their respective homes.

“Health officials are monitoring their situation while another child who had missed the full set of immunisation was referred to the local health clinic," he said.