Infection Disease At Commercial Centre Not Influenza Virus A H7N9 - Health DG

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- Several cases of infection among workers of a commercial centre, here, last month, were caused by Legionella bacteria and had nothing to do with the Influenza virus A H7N9 as claimed. Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said, this was based on preliminary investigations carried out by the Kuala Lumpur Health Department (JKWPKL). He said among others, JKWPKL found two of the cases were respiratory tract diseases caused by the bacteria Legionella which could be found in water and spread via air. "JKWPKL had also conducted active detection for the disease at one of the blocks of the building," he said in a statement, here, Tuesday adding that as of Monday, 1,158 workers of the centre had been screened and 281 found to be experiencing mild respiratory symptoms and given treatment accordingly. He said four workers were admitted to hospital and three had been discharged while another had died due to severe bronchopneumonia with Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome and several other diseases. Noor Hisham said, further investigations were being carried out to determine if the incident was caused by the hot water system in the building such as the cooling tower, humidifier, boilers, indoor fountain and others. But, regardless, he said the disease was still under control and was not spreading. "The JKWPKL will continue to monitor the situation and take control and preventive measures," he said. Noor Hisham also advised the public who were experiencing respiratory symptoms to promptly seek treatment at nearby clinics or hospitals. --BERNAMA