Rotavirus has been in the news of late due to the sad loss of two lives, but there are also other causes of acute gastroenteritis. Find out what other bugs can cause upset tummies.
GASTROENTERITIS is due to irritation and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which often results in diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. This intestinal infection can be contagious, and can spread through contact with an infected person, unhygienic practices, and through contaminated objects, food or water.
Anyone can contract gastroenteritis. However, it is more common among infants and children under the age of five as they are more vulnerable to fluid and electrolyte losses.
As many of the organisms that cause gastroenteritis spread via the oral-faecal route, personal hygiene is very important to minimise the risk of spread of the illness.
Monday, February 27, 2012
TheStar:Kelantan urged to hand over water management to federal govt
The Kelantan People's Action Council (MTRK) On Saturday urged the PAS-led state government to hand over the management of potable water to the federal government, claiming that it had failed to solve the state's water woes over the last 22 years.
Its president, Azmi Ali, said MTRK wanted the state government to do so within a month, failing which the council would hold a large gathering to press for it.
"The people of Kelantan want the PAS-led state government to quickly hand over the management of water to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
"PAS must admit that it has failed to implement the management of potable water to the people who have voted for it," he said after leading 3,000 people to press for the handing over, here.
Meanwhile, Malay right-wing group, Perkasa, vice-president Datuk Mustapha Yaakub claimed that the federal government had provided a RM600mil allocation to Kelantan to solve its water woes but the latter had failed to do so. - Bernama
Its president, Azmi Ali, said MTRK wanted the state government to do so within a month, failing which the council would hold a large gathering to press for it.
"The people of Kelantan want the PAS-led state government to quickly hand over the management of water to the National Water Services Commission (SPAN).
"PAS must admit that it has failed to implement the management of potable water to the people who have voted for it," he said after leading 3,000 people to press for the handing over, here.
Meanwhile, Malay right-wing group, Perkasa, vice-president Datuk Mustapha Yaakub claimed that the federal government had provided a RM600mil allocation to Kelantan to solve its water woes but the latter had failed to do so. - Bernama
Thursday, February 23, 2012
TheStar:High alert for AGE symptoms
THE wide coverage on the acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreak in the Hilir Perak and Batang Padang districts has made people to be more aware of the condition and take preventive measures even if they are in Ipoh and Kampar.
Clerk Leong Lee Fong, 49, said she has started to boil water, even when it had been filtered, before allowing her family to drink it.
“Prior to the outbreak, my family and I drank filtered water straight from the pipe.
“I have even advised my friends and neighbours not to take risks.
“It is better to be safe than sorry even if the outbreak has not spread to Ipoh,” she said.
Coffeeshop owner Heng Fook Meng, 60, said he was worried about the outbreak because two infants had died from the rotavirus infection.
Clerk Leong Lee Fong, 49, said she has started to boil water, even when it had been filtered, before allowing her family to drink it.
“Prior to the outbreak, my family and I drank filtered water straight from the pipe.
“I have even advised my friends and neighbours not to take risks.
“It is better to be safe than sorry even if the outbreak has not spread to Ipoh,” she said.
Coffeeshop owner Heng Fook Meng, 60, said he was worried about the outbreak because two infants had died from the rotavirus infection.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
TheStar:Dr Mah: Good hygiene still the best prevention method for AGE
IT IS up to the Health Ministry to decide if infants should be vaccinated as a preventive measure against acute gastroenteritis (AGE), said Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.
“I trust the ministry will make the best decision” he said, adding that the vaccination was given to babies in the United States.
It was reported that currently two vaccines available in the market were found to be highly effective and safe in the prevention of rotavirus infection in infants.
Dr Mah added that the cost-effectiveness of the vaccines have yet to be determined.
Good hygiene, however, was the best way to keep such viruses at bay, he said, adding that patients should seek treatment early to prevent them from succumbing to its symptoms such as prolonged diarrhoea, vomiting and high fever.
Dr Mah also said the rotavirus was responsible for between 20% and 30% of AGE cases, especially among children aged two and below.
“I trust the ministry will make the best decision” he said, adding that the vaccination was given to babies in the United States.
It was reported that currently two vaccines available in the market were found to be highly effective and safe in the prevention of rotavirus infection in infants.
Dr Mah added that the cost-effectiveness of the vaccines have yet to be determined.
Good hygiene, however, was the best way to keep such viruses at bay, he said, adding that patients should seek treatment early to prevent them from succumbing to its symptoms such as prolonged diarrhoea, vomiting and high fever.
Dr Mah also said the rotavirus was responsible for between 20% and 30% of AGE cases, especially among children aged two and below.
Monday, February 20, 2012
TheStar:Perak developers unhappy with new premium rate system
Recent media reports suggest that Ipoh is experiencing an upswing in property developments but developers are unhappy with the new premium rate system imposed.
According to San Chak Chun, honorary secretary of the Perak chapter of the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda), there are some significant property projects in Perak, particularly Ipoh, but recent developments in the state administration have been of great concern to developers.
“The Perak government should be more sympathetic to the property development sector as it is the ‘locomotive’ for economic growth in the state,” pointed out San, 65, a lawyer by training. He is concurrently a committee member of the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Malaysia, involved in monitoring issues related to property and housing development and legal affairs.
“The property sector plays a vital role in more than 140 industries and trades in the economy,” explained San. “It is, in fact, the lifeline for people from all walks of life. Property development creates many job opportunities for locals as well as foreigners.
According to San Chak Chun, honorary secretary of the Perak chapter of the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda), there are some significant property projects in Perak, particularly Ipoh, but recent developments in the state administration have been of great concern to developers.
“The Perak government should be more sympathetic to the property development sector as it is the ‘locomotive’ for economic growth in the state,” pointed out San, 65, a lawyer by training. He is concurrently a committee member of the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Malaysia, involved in monitoring issues related to property and housing development and legal affairs.
“The property sector plays a vital role in more than 140 industries and trades in the economy,” explained San. “It is, in fact, the lifeline for people from all walks of life. Property development creates many job opportunities for locals as well as foreigners.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
NST:Frequent Water Cuts Irk Residents
TAMAN Melawati Phase 3 residents are urging Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) to resolve the frequent water supply disruptions in the area immediately.
Streets visited the area and found that the water supply was disrupted from last Thursday till close to midnight on Sunday .
One of the residents, Zaini Alawiah Sulaiman, 45, said that since 2004, the water supply problem has gradually worsened.
Disruptions used to happen about four times annually, but last year, it happened almost once every two months.
She said the disruptions were also longer these days, from about three hours to several days.
"We do not want this to happen again," Zaini said, adding that the residents are puzzled over the frequent disruptions.
Streets visited the area and found that the water supply was disrupted from last Thursday till close to midnight on Sunday .
One of the residents, Zaini Alawiah Sulaiman, 45, said that since 2004, the water supply problem has gradually worsened.
Disruptions used to happen about four times annually, but last year, it happened almost once every two months.
She said the disruptions were also longer these days, from about three hours to several days.
"We do not want this to happen again," Zaini said, adding that the residents are puzzled over the frequent disruptions.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
TheStar:Dr Mah: Water tests for rotavirus in AGE negative
The cause of over 3,000 cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and two related deaths in Perak over the last three weeks remains a mystery.
The patients who are mostly young children are from Batang Padang and Hilir Perak.
Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said tests for the rotavirus which was believed to be the cause of the outbreak was negative so far.
“Tests for rotavirus on water samples taken from eight locations in Batang Padang over three days, Feb 11, 12 and 13 are negative.
“The results on water samples taken from Hilir Perak on Feb 14 are not out yet,” Dr Mah told The Star.
There were 1,990 cases of AGE in Hilir Perak and 1,078 cases in Batang Padang since three weeks ago.
The patients who are mostly young children are from Batang Padang and Hilir Perak.
Perak Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said tests for the rotavirus which was believed to be the cause of the outbreak was negative so far.
“Tests for rotavirus on water samples taken from eight locations in Batang Padang over three days, Feb 11, 12 and 13 are negative.
“The results on water samples taken from Hilir Perak on Feb 14 are not out yet,” Dr Mah told The Star.
There were 1,990 cases of AGE in Hilir Perak and 1,078 cases in Batang Padang since three weeks ago.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Bernama:Syabas To Replace Old Pipes In 14 Critical Areas In Klang Valley
KLANG, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SYABAS) has identified 14 critical areas which need water pipe replacement in a bid to reduce its non-revenue water rate which has reached 43 per cent.
Its chief executive officer Datuk Lee Miang Koi said all the asbestos cement pipes in those areas would be replaced with high density polyethylene pipes.
Among the areas identified are Jalan Chow Kit, Taman Maluri, Taman Sri Andalas, Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara (Zone 1), Parit Mahang and Kampung Jalan Kebun.
"We have already started replacing the 37-year-old pipes, with a length of 10.3km, in Kampung Jalan Kebun. The work is expected to be completed by Aug 25," he said at the launch of Syabas pipe replacement in Kampung Jalan Kebun here Saturday.
He also called on all consumers in the affected areas to give their cooperation to Syabas throughout the process.-- BERNAMA
Its chief executive officer Datuk Lee Miang Koi said all the asbestos cement pipes in those areas would be replaced with high density polyethylene pipes.
Among the areas identified are Jalan Chow Kit, Taman Maluri, Taman Sri Andalas, Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara (Zone 1), Parit Mahang and Kampung Jalan Kebun.
"We have already started replacing the 37-year-old pipes, with a length of 10.3km, in Kampung Jalan Kebun. The work is expected to be completed by Aug 25," he said at the launch of Syabas pipe replacement in Kampung Jalan Kebun here Saturday.
He also called on all consumers in the affected areas to give their cooperation to Syabas throughout the process.-- BERNAMA
Friday, February 10, 2012
HarakahDaily:Selangor awaits Putrajaya’s decision on water act
Feb 9: The Selangor state government reiterates its stand to restructure the water services sector to benefit consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
As such, the state government said it backed the Water Services Industry Act (WSIA) 2006 to better manage the water industry, and urged the Federal government to expedite its implementation.
“The state government is now ready to implement WSIA and is awaiting the Federal government to make a professional decision for the sake of the 5 million water consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya,” reads a statement issued by the office of the Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.
It pointed out that the WSIA recognised the weaknesses of privatisation, citing the failure of appointed private firms to deliver quality water infrastructure at reasonable costs.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (SYABAS), it said, was unfit to be retained as the state water services operator saying it violated “many obligations under the concession agreement” such as reduction in non-revenue water, sustainable and continuous pipe replacement, unauthorised collection of funds through its so-called 'Tabung Budi' and refusal to work with appointed state auditors.
As such, the state government said it backed the Water Services Industry Act (WSIA) 2006 to better manage the water industry, and urged the Federal government to expedite its implementation.
“The state government is now ready to implement WSIA and is awaiting the Federal government to make a professional decision for the sake of the 5 million water consumers in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya,” reads a statement issued by the office of the Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.
It pointed out that the WSIA recognised the weaknesses of privatisation, citing the failure of appointed private firms to deliver quality water infrastructure at reasonable costs.
Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (SYABAS), it said, was unfit to be retained as the state water services operator saying it violated “many obligations under the concession agreement” such as reduction in non-revenue water, sustainable and continuous pipe replacement, unauthorised collection of funds through its so-called 'Tabung Budi' and refusal to work with appointed state auditors.
ForumAir:A case of bringing your own water
I REFER to the news report “No longer cheap to drink water” (The Star, Feb 8).
It is shocking to read that as high as RM1.50 is charged for a glass of sky juice when dining out at restaurants.
The commercial water tariff in Selangor is just RM2.07 per cubic metre, which means RM2.07 for 2,000 bottles of 500ml mineral water.
This simple comparison shows that RM1.50 is too exorbitant to be charged to consumers for plain water.
A study done by Forum Air Malaysia last year showed that there is no significant difference between the quality of piped water and bottled drinking water.
While the rental and levy to foreign workers have increased, the restaurateurs should increase their effort in reducing costs by increasing the energy efficiency and holistic management of resources while providing good service and sound quality of food to consumers instead of passing the costs on to them.
It is shocking to read that as high as RM1.50 is charged for a glass of sky juice when dining out at restaurants.
The commercial water tariff in Selangor is just RM2.07 per cubic metre, which means RM2.07 for 2,000 bottles of 500ml mineral water.
This simple comparison shows that RM1.50 is too exorbitant to be charged to consumers for plain water.
A study done by Forum Air Malaysia last year showed that there is no significant difference between the quality of piped water and bottled drinking water.
While the rental and levy to foreign workers have increased, the restaurateurs should increase their effort in reducing costs by increasing the energy efficiency and holistic management of resources while providing good service and sound quality of food to consumers instead of passing the costs on to them.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
FreeMalaysiaToday:S’gor gesa kerajaan laksana WSIA 2006
PETALING JAYA: Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor sangat konsisten dengan pendiriannya mengenai pengurusan air di negeri ini, demikian ditegaskan pejabat Menteri Besar dalam satu kenyataan media hari ini.
Kata kenyataan itu, sejak Jun 2008, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim berulang kali mengingatkan semua pihak tentang pentingnya memastikan pengurusan dan perkhidmatan air diurus dengan cekap dan berkesan.
“Syarikat konsesi air yang ada sekarang (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd – Syabas) telah gagal untuk berbuat demikian,” jelas kenyataan itu.
Kata kenyataan itu, atas dasar yang sama, kerajaan negeri menyokong pelaksanaan Akta Industri Perkhidmatan Air (WSIA) 2006.
Akta ini digubal untuk memberi laluan kepada Kerajaan Pusat untuk memperbaiki peraturan yang lebih baik terhadap perkhidmatan air serta penyediaan infrastruktur air.
Kata kenyataan itu, sejak Jun 2008, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim berulang kali mengingatkan semua pihak tentang pentingnya memastikan pengurusan dan perkhidmatan air diurus dengan cekap dan berkesan.
“Syarikat konsesi air yang ada sekarang (Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd – Syabas) telah gagal untuk berbuat demikian,” jelas kenyataan itu.
Kata kenyataan itu, atas dasar yang sama, kerajaan negeri menyokong pelaksanaan Akta Industri Perkhidmatan Air (WSIA) 2006.
Akta ini digubal untuk memberi laluan kepada Kerajaan Pusat untuk memperbaiki peraturan yang lebih baik terhadap perkhidmatan air serta penyediaan infrastruktur air.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
TheStar:No longer cheap to drink water
PETALING JAYA: Reflective of the increasing cost of living in the Klang Valley is the price that eating joints charge for plain water – up to RM1.50.
“Most cafes in this area charge more than 80 sen for a glass of water. So as a business, we have to follow the market price,” said The Coffee and Spice Company operations manager Jun Cheong.
The “kopitiam” concept eatery in KLCC charges its customers RM1.50 for a glass of plain water, which is refillable.
Chakri Palace KLCC restaurant manager CK Chong cited the same reason as Jun for charging customers 80 sen for a refillable glass of distilled water.
Expensive sky juice: Most restaurants charge their customers between 50 and 80 sen for a glass of plain water.
Other restaurants such as Spice of India and Bumbu Desa do not offer distilled water at all, and only serve bottled mineral or reverse-osmosis water.
“Most cafes in this area charge more than 80 sen for a glass of water. So as a business, we have to follow the market price,” said The Coffee and Spice Company operations manager Jun Cheong.
The “kopitiam” concept eatery in KLCC charges its customers RM1.50 for a glass of plain water, which is refillable.
Chakri Palace KLCC restaurant manager CK Chong cited the same reason as Jun for charging customers 80 sen for a refillable glass of distilled water.
Expensive sky juice: Most restaurants charge their customers between 50 and 80 sen for a glass of plain water.
Other restaurants such as Spice of India and Bumbu Desa do not offer distilled water at all, and only serve bottled mineral or reverse-osmosis water.
TheStar:Perak set to sign water deal
IPOH: Perak is set to sign an agreement with Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) within the next few months, said Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
“We are now ready to go and we expect the deal to be concluded in the first quarter of this year,” he said after attending the Thaipusam celebration at the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Gunung Cheroh here yesterday.
The agreement is over the proposed acquisition of the state’s water assets by water asset management company PAAB.
It was earlier reported that the cost of acquiring the water assets in Perak is estimated to be over RM650mil.
Unlike most states that had agreed to a complete migration of their water assets to PAAB, Perak had requested to retain RM200mil worth of water assets within the state.
Dr Zambry said Perak was now ready to sign the deal since certain issues had been sorted out after negotiations between the state government and the company.
“We are now ready to go and we expect the deal to be concluded in the first quarter of this year,” he said after attending the Thaipusam celebration at the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Gunung Cheroh here yesterday.
The agreement is over the proposed acquisition of the state’s water assets by water asset management company PAAB.
It was earlier reported that the cost of acquiring the water assets in Perak is estimated to be over RM650mil.
Unlike most states that had agreed to a complete migration of their water assets to PAAB, Perak had requested to retain RM200mil worth of water assets within the state.
Dr Zambry said Perak was now ready to sign the deal since certain issues had been sorted out after negotiations between the state government and the company.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)