TWO infant siblings infected with pertussis (whooping cough) in Keningau, Sabah had not been vaccinated, the Health Ministry said. 

Director-General of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the toddler, aged two years and seven months, and baby, aged 11 months, were getting treatment at the Keningau Hospital.  

“They are from a family of foreigners who have never received pertussis immunisation. But the two are reportedly stable” he said in a statement.

He said pertussis was preventable via complete immunisation and fatal if left untreated. 

Dr Noor Hisham’s statement follows a leaked internal circular from the Keningau Health Office to the Health Department asking that a pertussis outbreak be declared. The circular went viral on social media on Aug 4. 

The request came following the detection of two cases from Taman Kota in Kampung Sungai. 

Dr Noor Hisham said the Sabah Health Department has stepped up preventive and control measures on the field, including providing immunisation for young children. Department officers also visited the  home of the two infected infants.

“There is no cause for concern as the incident is minor. We will also provide immunisation for children who missed their shots,” he said.  – August 6, 2017.