ANOTHER three Bateq tribe members from Kg Kuala Koh have been admitted to Gua Musang Hospital for respiratory problems, said Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He said they are receiving treatment in the isolation ward, and are in stable condition.

“From June 3 to 21, there were 116 cases. Of the total, 47 were confirmed to be measles.

“As of June 21, 48 patients were still being treated. Forty-six were in normal wards, and the other two in the intensive care unit,” he said after officiating at the National Blood Donors Celebration in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Dr Dzulkefly said health officials will continue to monitor the situation in Kg Kuala Koh, Kg Gerdong in Hulu Terengganu and Kg Ulu Sat in Jerantut.

To date, 15 of Kg Kuala Koh’s Orang Asli residents have died due to the illness, described as “mysterious” before the ministry’s confirmation that it was measles.

Dr Dzulkefly said currently, 12 patients are at an Orang Asli health clinic, and another 14 at the Gua Musang National Service centre.

He said the ministry has yet to determine the cause of death of 12 Orang Asli, whose bodies were retrieved from the forest near Kg Kuala Koh, as the results of the post-mortem and other tests have not yet been released.

“We are carrying out tests to determine their sex, age, height and time of death.”

As of June 16, all 12 bodies had been retrieved and taken to Gua Musang Hospital.

Dr Dzulkefly said the situation in Kg Kuala Koh is under control, adding that the district Health Department will hold a measles immunisation programme for the Bateq tribe and other communities. – June 22, 2019.