River water source of Hepatitis A outbreak

HULU TERENGGANU: River water is believed to be the source of a Hepaptitis A outbreak affecting some 800 people in three villages here.

Such was a result of a cost saving measure by Kampung Basung, Kampung Pasir Dula and Padang Setebu villagers who have been using Sungai Kecur as their water source since 1980.

They paid RM24 annually for maintenance of drainage and the watershed area managed by village security development committees (JKKK) compared to RM30 monthly charged by Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd (Satu).

Kampung Basung JKKK chairman Mamat Mat Amin said the initiative taken by the villagers was to cut costs because most of them are farmers.

“We have to use the river water to reduce costs but stall owners are spared as they use clean water supplied by Satu,” he said.

Mamat added that people in the three villages have never been hit by the Hepatitis A outbreak.

Kampung Basung, Kampung Pasir Dula and Padang Setebu were declared as an outbreak area after 42 people were admitted to Hulu Terengganu Hospital.

State Health, Unity and Consumer Affairs Committee Chairman Dr A Rahman Mokhtar said the sick villagers were not quarantined.

Of the 42 people infected, 27 were from Kampung Basung, 14 from Kampung Pasir Dula and 1 from Kampung Padang Setebu.

However, nine people were discharged from hospital recently while 33 were undergoing treatment.

Checks showed that the state health department has put chlorine in the water source to disinfect the virus.

Source: Bernama