KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has yet to record any cases of Naegleria Fowleri infection, but members of the public have been urged to be vigilant and take appropriate measures when carrying out activities related to fresh water.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said this includes avoiding digging or tampering with any sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds or rivers where amoeba can be found.
The public is also advised to avoid activities such as diving, or swimming in water that may be contaminated by amoeba that can enter the nasal cavity directly.
"Another step is to wash the body with treated water and soap after performing activities in the water and immediately seek treatment when experiencing fever, headache, vomiting or neck stiffness, especially after doing activities in the water," he said in a statement today.
Naegleria Fowleri is a thermophilic amoeba or protozoan single-cell organism that can be found all over the world, especially in freshwater habitats such as lakes, ponds, rivers, hot springs and in the ground and can cause severe brain infection which is primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is usually fatal.
Naegleria Fowleri is also known as a 'brain-eating amoeba' because it is able to cause damage to the brain through infection of the spinal cord and is able to enter the human body through nasal cavity during activities related to fresh water.
Yesterday, South Korea reported the first case of the infection involving a local man in his 50s who died on Dec 21 after staying for four months in a Southeast Asian country before returning to the republic on Dec 10.
"The Ministry of Health (MOH) will continue to closely monitor the Naegleria Fowleri infection situation in the country and abroad from time to time, to ensure the health and well-being of the people. In addition, the MoH is also committed to providing accurate and responsive information should there be any recent developments about the said disease," said Dr Noor Hisham.
He said that the symptoms of PAM in the early stages resemble the symptoms of meningitis caused by bacteria or other viruses such as headache, fever, nausea, or vomiting.
He added that more serious symptoms such as neck stiffness, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, seizures, hallucinations, and coma can also occur and often, these symptoms appear around five days after infection (incubation period) and as early as one day or as late as 12 days after being infected.
"The patient's condition can also worsen rapidly within five days and death can occur within one to 18 days from the onset of symptoms," he said.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Wed Dec 28 2022
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has advised the public to avoid digging or tampering with any sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds or rivers where amoeba can be found. - BERNAMA/Filepic
Enakmen kawalan hiburan baharu, Kelantan yakin tidak bercanggah
Kerajaan Kelantan yakin proses penggubalan Enakmen Kawalan Hiburan baharu Kelantan yang akan dibentang pada sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) selepas ini tidak bercanggah dengan aturan sedia ada.
Misi teroka peluang ekonomi, tarik pelaburan baharu di WEF - PM
Delegasi Malaysia akan berkongsi dasar dan hala tuju negara di samping mempertegas pendirian negara dalam isu geopolitik serantau di hadapan pemimpin dunia.
JBPM Terengganu berdepan kesukaran padam kebakaran
JBPM Terengganu menghadapi kesukaran memadamkan kebakaran di Kampung Sungai Ikan Kuala Nerus yang melibatkan lebih 75% tapak pelupusan sampah
Polis jangka laporan baharu selepas berkas guru tahfiz
Polis Kelantan menjangkakan lebih banyak laporan polis berkenaan pencabulan di sebuah pusat tahfiz di Machang selepas penahanan seorang guru.
Polis Jerman rampas 4 kereta Bugatti Veyron edisi terhad yang dikaitkan dengan 1MDB
Kenderaan berkenaan dikatakan sebahagian daripada siri "Legenda" khas Bugatti Veyron, dengan hanya 18 daripada supercar tersebut dibina dalam enam spesifikasi.
Gempa kuat 6.5 skala Richter gegar Garut, impak dirasai hingga Jakarta
Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG) Indonesia merekodkan gempa berkekuatan 6.5 skala Richter pada malam Sabtu.
EPL: Jika saya bercakap akan berlaku pergaduhan - Salah
Salah sangat tegang dengan Klopp ketika dia bersedia untuk masuk sebagai pemain gantian pada minit ke-79.
Rumah Najib boleh jadi penjara - Peguam
Rumah bekas Perdana Menteri itu boleh dijadikan sebagai penjara dan tempat tahanan untuk beliau seperti yang termaktub dalam undang-undang.
Kopi, kanvas seni Tyler Wong
Kopi ialah kanvas untuk Tyler Wong mempamerkan kemahiran dalam mencipta seni latte yang rumit namun indah.
Mayat tanpa identiti ditemukan terapung di Sungai Linggi
Mayat dipercayai seorang lelaki ditemukan terapung di kawasan Sungai Linggi berhampiran Pusat Dakwah Islamiah Paroi, di sini petang Sabtu.
Jadikan ASEAN platform pembelian ubat secara pukal - Dr Noor Hisham
Usaha berterusan perlu dilaksanakan kerajaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai platform pembelian ubat-ubatan dan peralatan kesihatan menerusi perolehan secara pukal.
Kejayaan IJN lakukan 2 pemindahan jantung bukti perlu tingkatkan penderma organ
IJN memaklumkan terdapat terdapat 22 pesakit di pusat rawatan tersebut sedang menunggu penderma yang sesuai untuk menerima pemindahan menyelamatkan nyawa.
Dr Noor Hisham dilantik pengerusi baharu IJN
Bekas Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdulah dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) yang baharu, berkuat kuasa 1 Dis lepas.
Nama diperguna, Dr Noor Hisham saman premis minuman herba
Dr Noor Hisham berkata, beliau tidak mempunyai pilihan lain selain mengheret syarikat itu ke mahkamah.
Bekas KP Kesihatan Dr Noor Hisham dilantik Canselor UoC
Bekas Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah dilantik sebagai Canselor Universiti Cyberjaya (UoC) berkuat kuasa 1 Okt lepas.
Dr Noor Hisham kembali berkhidmat di hospital
Pada setiap hari Isnin, Dr Noor Hisham akan melakukan pembedahan, sementara pada hari Selasa pula memberikan konsultansi di klinik.
Dr Noor Hisham pengerusikan sesi libat urus dan perbincangan TAG UHC di Manila
Mesyuarat akan memfokuskan kepada perbincangan mengenai liputan kesihatan sejagat termasuk pembelajaran daripada impak COVID-19.
Dr Noor Hisham dilantik Pengerusi Kumpulan Kesihatan UCSI
Bekas Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan, Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Kumpulan Kesihatan UCSI.
Putri Ariani seorang superstar dan mungkin akan menang Grammy, kata Dr Noor Hisham
Bukan calang-calang bakat Putri Ariani dari Indonesia ini sehingga seluruh dunia mengaguminya.
Dr Muhammad Radzi Ketua Pengarah Kesihatan baharu
Dr Muhammad Radzi menggantikan Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yang bersara baru-baru ini.