Penang health director Dr Asmayani Khalib said the two children were admitted to the HPP for treatment on June 22 and one of them had been discharged.

“The children are from Kampung Badak Mati and Taman Kuang, Sungai Bakap.

“The Penang health department has requested the Seberang Perai Selatan district health office to conduct control and preventive steps in the locality,” she said in a statement today.

Asmayani said 4,068 empty cans were searched in the area and 18 of them were found to be Culex mosquito breeding grounds and were destroyed.

She said the department also conducted fogging operations of 1,082 premises within a 2km radius of the residence of the two children.

“Active case-tracing activities were also conducted at the victims’ homes, which included 3,806 residents found with no JE symptoms. The department also issued a ‘JE Alert’ to hospitals and district health offices to detect new JE cases.”

She said the Health Department also cooperated with the Penang Veterinary Services Department to eradicate the spread of JE in the area and thus far three pig farms were found to be located within 1.5km of the case area.

“Pig samples have also been taken and sent to the laboratory for JE virus detection. Pig farm owners are requested to adhere to good breeding practices to improve farm cleanliness and to be free of mosquito breeding grounds, especially the Culex mosquito,” she said.

From January this year until June 25, nine cases, including one death, due to JE infection were reported in the country, compared to 12 cases and three deaths recorded in the same period last year.

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