New Delhi (Mizzima) – An outbreak of Leptospirosis disease in Malaysia’s Juru detention camp has killed two Burmese migrant workers in the local hospital, a Malaysian health official said.
Phee Boon Poh, chairman of Penang Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee, on Tuesday told Mizzima that two Burmese migrants had died of Leptospirosis disease and at least 22 more Burmese are reportedly suffering from the same disease.
Phee said the two Burmese died in the Bukit Mertajam Hospital in Penang, where they were being treated.
“So far, only two among illegal migrants from Myanmar [Burma] and Bangladesh who were admitted in Bukit Mertajam hospital have died,” said Phee.
On May 7, 22 Burmese and two Bangladeshis were taken to Bukit Mertajam and Seberang Jaya Hospitals after authorities in Juru detention camp in Central Seberang Prai of Malaysia reported to the health department regarding the outbreak of Leptospirosis.
There are at least 500 Burmese migrant workers detained in the camp.
Phee said that Leptospirosis disease, which killed the two Burmese, is caused from contaminated water, which is used by detainees in Juru detention camp. The water could have been contaminated with the urine of animals.
“We detected the disease was caused by contaminated water in the detention camp but now it is under control,” he added.
The two Burmese, who died of the disease, were identified as Thang Hoih Ping (21) and Sa La Hin (26). While Thang Hoih Ping died on May 12, Sa La Hin died on May 17.
Phee said among the other Burmese patients, three have been discharged from hospital as they have recovered and “the condition of the rest is also getting better.”
Meanwhile, Ye Min Tun, secretary of the Kuala Lumpur-based Burmese Workers’ Rights Protection Committee said, a Burmese patient is in a critical condition.
“Though the officials said people are recovering, I heard that the condition of one patient is critical,” Ye Min Tun told Mizzima on Tuesday.
Phee said the authorities of Juru detention centre and the immigration department have to take full responsibility for the outbreak of the disease and of the death of the detained Burmese migrants.
Following the outbreak, Phee said the health department has alerted the other detention centres.
“We alerted them of the disease so the other detention centres are aware of what to do,” he added.
There are 13 detention centres across Malaysia for detention of foreigners, who have illegally entered the country.
Malaysia, one of the rising economies among Southeast Asian nations, has long been a favourite destination for Burmese migrant workers, who due to economic and political crisis flee their country in search of greener pastures.
Estimates by NGO and Burmese labour groups shows that there are about 500,000 Burmese nationals living in Malaysia.
