The report said of the six victims, four were children of the 41-year-old housewife from Rembau who was the first diphtheria victim in the state.

The children, aged between eight and 21, have been isolated at the same ward as their mother at the Tuanku Jaafar Hospital in Seremban, since July 18.

According to the report, the children are showing good response to treatment.

The remaining two victims are staff of a clinic in Rembau, who had attended to the woman when she came for treatment.

Both are reportedly in stable condition.

State Health director Dr Abdul Rahim Abdullah urged the public to seek treatment should they get diphtheria symptoms.

He said the impact of the virus was worse on children as the former’s immunisation system was weaker.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show there are at least 15 diphtheria cases in Malaysia.

Out of that, there were three deaths reported in Sabah, and one each in Kedah and Malacca.