THE Johor government is not ruling out the possibility that pigeon droppings was the cause of SK Tanjung Puteri Resort pupils in Pasir Gudang falling ill again.

State Health and Culture Committee chairman Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar said the bird droppings had been affecting some of the pupils for quite some time.

“This may also be among the factors (causing the students to experience shortness of breath and vomiting). 

“So we request the Education Ministry to immediately address this, because you ladies and gentlemen (the journalists present there) have already seen the condition (of the area affected by bird droppings),” he told reporters after visiting the school today.

Education, Human Resources, Science and Technology Committee chairman Aminolhuda Hassan, who also visited the school, said the bird droppings were not only found on the ground floor, but also on the school’s fourth-floor balcony.

“This has been happening for a long time now. Otherwise, how can there be such a large amount of droppings?

“I was also informed that the ministry had inspected the school and it is hoped that action will be taken to prevent the birds from entering the roofs of classrooms, and clean-up can be carried out immediately, because its adverse effects on breathing can be seen, which is not suitable for children, especially those under 12,” he said.

He urged the school’s administration to temporarily use other classes to avoid causing the students further discomfort.

Meanwhile, Johor Health Department director Dr Selahuddeen Abd Aziz said the bird droppings could have made students’ the breathing difficulties worse.

“In health terminology, we call it ‘hypersensitivity pneumonitis’ or ‘Pigeon Breeder’s Lung’ which may lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, but it depends on how long they have been exposed to the droppings,” he said. – Bernama, July 23, 2019.