42 MENINGITIS CASES BEING TREATED IN HOSPITAL

PUTRAJAYA, May 15 (Bernama) -- The number of Road Transport Department (JPJ) Academy trainees in Melaka, being treated at the Melaka Hospital following an epidemic suspected to be meningitis, stood at 42 Thursday.

Director-General of Health,Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said from the 46 cases
treated Wednesday, five were allowed to return home while one new case was
admitted Thursday from the JPJ academy in Peninsular Malaysia's southern state
of Melaka.

"Two patients who were receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
have recuperated and moved to the isolation ward," he said in a statement here
Thursday.

Dr Mohd Ismail said he had paid a visit to the Melaka Hospital and JPJ
academy and was satisfied with the control, preventive and rehabilitative
measures there.

"I am confident with the cooperation of the JPJ academy management,
preventive and control measures will be continued until all the cases have fully
recovered," he said.

Dr Mohd Ismail said personal hygiene, good ventilation, avoiding crowded
living or sleeping environment would help in the prevention of meningococal
meningitis.

He urged people not to panic over the meningitis situation as the infection
could only be spread by droplets when the carrier coughed or sneezed within a
one-metre range and cannot be transmitted through the air.

"Like we had announced earlier, the disease can only spread through close
contact," he said.
-- BERNAMA