Malaria cases likely to rise - Dr Mah

The number of malaria cases at the Pos Kemar Orang Asli settlement in Gerik is likely to rise, said the state executive councillor in charge of health in Perak, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

He said that this was because the results of analysis of blood samples of many other residents of the settlement had yet to be obtained.

He said samples had been taken from 2,000 residents while 1,000 had yet to undergo tests.

"Some are refusing to take the tests for fear they will be hospitalised, some have even run off into the jungle. We have to go to the settlement to treat those found positive for malaria but refused to come to the hospital for treatment," he told reporters after opening the state-level World Diabetes Day here today.

He added that the number of patients admitted to hospitals due to the malaria outbreak had risen to 77 as compared to 73 yesterday.

Sixty-five of them are receiving treatment at the Gerik Hospital and the rest at the Kuala Kangsar Hospital. -- Bernama