Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement yesterday, said the child had not been immunised against diphtheria as the family practised homeopathy treatment.

“This child started experiencing fever, cough and vomiting since Aug 13. The patient was taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital on Thursday (Aug 18) due to shortness of breath, and was then admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment and close supervision.

“The culture of the patient’s throat swab tested positive for the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheria. The patient received antitoxin treatment and is currently on antibiotics,” he said.

He said that as of now, all the 14 children who were believed to be in close contact with the child were in good health, including three who lived in the same house, and another 11 at the nursery, who were, however, still being monitored.

Noor Hisham said there were now 27 confirmed number of diphtheria cases in Malaysia, including five related deaths.