Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the contact period of chlorine with water must comply with the standards prescribed to prevent infection.

He said the suggestion was made by the Perak state health department during a visit and inspection of the recreation centre, which has been closed for 14 days after several cases of rotavirus and acute gastroenteritis were reported this week.

Dr Noor Hisham said the management was also advised to appoint a qualified water quality officer and if not, the existing officer should be trained periodically.

“It is proposed that portable digital equipment be used and parameters such as residual chlorine, pH, turbidity, redox potential (chemical reaction) and nitrate levels measured during monitoring,” he said in a statement posted on his Facebook.

The water park management was also asked to ensure that pump house filers were maintained regularly so that bacteria and viruses are not trapped in it.

“The ministry will continue to monitor the status of events and water quality compliance in the pool before it can be reopened to the public,” he said.

The water theme park has been closed for 14 days to allow cleaning work to be carried out after a number of rotavirus and AGE cases were detected.

Dr Noor Hisham advised the public not to take children with symptoms such as diarrhoea and vomiting to swimming pools.

So far 46 cases of acute gastroenteritis were recorded in Kedah, 17 with three of them testing positive for rotavirus, Penang (10 AGE, six Rotavirus), and Perak (19 AGE cases).

The Penang Health Department confirmed six positive cases of rotavirus infection involving children between the ages of one to eight years. They have been warded.

Health director Dr M. Sukumar said three cases were reported in Bukit Mertajam, two in Balik Pulau and one case at a private hospital.