He however said that she could have contracted the infection due to a weak immune system.
“We are still investigating how she contracted diphtheria. The patient’s immune system could be weak, making her vulnerable to the bacteria.
“However, by getting the vaccination before, she had been able to minimise the effects of the bacteria,” he told New Straits Times Online.
Hilmi said that while new rounds of immunisation were not necessary, high-risk groups had best consult their doctors on whether a booster was needed.
“…we advise those in the high-risk groups, such as those with cancer, diabetes or hepatitis, to get a second round of vaccination,” he told NST.
Last Wednesday, a 41-year-old woman from Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, was found to have been infected with diphtheria, making it the first case involving an adult.
Her case brings the total of diphtheria cases to 15. Bernama reported that of the 15, Malacca had three cases with one death, Kedah (seven cases, one death), Sabah (four cases, three deaths) and Negeri Sembilan, one case.
Yesterday, an eight-year-old in Kota Baru, Kelantan was suspected of contracting diphtheria.
Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham told Bernama the Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria could affect the throats of adults or children, and could spread, affecting individuals whose health were not at an optimum level.
“It could be spread through respiratory droplets and could put other people at risk, especially children who do not have strong resistance and those without antibodies because they have not been immunised or have been incompletely immunised,” he told the national news agency.
He urged parents to ensure that children under seven years old received the complete five immunisations as it would help improve their immunity as well as group immunity, thus controlling the incidence of diphtheria from becoming a public health problem.