Halimah (in yellow tudung) taking to the trainees whon were warded. NST Pix by Zain Ahmed KOTA TINGGI, SUN:
One National Service trainer and 57 trainees from “Kem Desaru” have been warded at the Kota Tinggi Hospital since last night for viral fever after they complained of fever, sore throat and joint pains.
The female trainer, along with 25 male trainees and 32 female trainees, were warded overnight but today, 37 of them were released while the rest is expected to be released tomorrow.
State Women, Family and Community Development and Health executive committee chairman Dr Robia Kosai said on May 26, four trainees from the camp were also taken to the hospital.
“Initially, they were suspected of having dengue fever, but upon treatment, they were found to have contracted viral fever.
“The four who were warded on May 26 also displayed similar symptoms,” Dr Robia said when contacted this afternoon.
She said the victims were likely to have contracted the illness due to living in confined spaces at the camp.
“The outbreak is not too serious and we have everything under control,” Dr Robia said.
One of the trainees, Erni Fiziana Mohd Selamat, 18, said she began feeling ill on Friday but her fever got worse yesterday night.
“I felt drowsy and had pains in my joints and back. I then went to the camp’s medical staff for checks before they decided to send me to the hospital,” said Erni Fiziana.
She said she is unsure of the cause of the illness but said that the trainees had gone camping and trekking in a jungle near the camp last Monday.
“The doctors have yet to determine the exact illness because they are still waiting for the result of the blood tests,” said Erni Fiziana, adding that the trainees were supposed to finish their programme next Saturday.
Erni Fiziana’s parents, Mohd Selamat Isman, 48, and Sabariah Abd Jabar, 44, said they were informed of their daughter’s hospitalisation last night.
“At first they told us that she had dengue fever, but when we got here, we were told that is not the case and that they are still trying to find out the cause of her illness,” said Mohd Selamat, who is from Kluang.
The Tenggara Member of Parliament Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique said she was happy with the promptness in which the trainees were brought to the hospital.
“The parents of the trainees that I talked to also voiced their satisfaction with the treatment given to their children,” said Halimah after visiting the trainees at the hospital today.
She also said that the parents were promptly informed of their children conditions by the camp officials.
“I have also advised the parents to be calm as their children have been given the proper treatment,” said Halimah.
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