Labuan Matriculation College contaminated with rat droppings, urine

Following the death of an 18-year-old female student at the Labuan Matriculation College (LMC) from suspected leptospirosis last Monday, the Labuan Health Department will closely monitor the situation at the college, and its students showing symptoms of the disease.

(Leptospirosis is an infectious bacterial disease occurring in rodents, dogs and other mammals which can be transmitted to humans) Department director, Dr Ismail Ali said the one-week monitoring exercise found certain areas in the students' hostel and administration office contaminated with rat droppings and urine.

“Our week-long observation and inspection indicated areas with rat droppings and urine, at the hostel and administration office.

"In the last couple of days, we used preventive methods by spraying disinfectant and installing mousetraps, resulting in rats caught in the traps,” he told Bernama Monday.

Dr Ismail said based on initial findings, the rats could have originated from the bushes and jungle behind the college.

He said a reminder was issued to the LMC management to be vigilant and organise more ‘gotong-royong’ activities to keep the college surrounding free from rats.

The LMC has about 2,600 students and the six operators take turns to run the three cafes at the college.

Meanwhile, LMC director Sawang @ Rezal Amit said general cleaning was being carried out at its surroundings and hoped the college was not the source of the leptospirosis.