Three-year-old dies of diphtheria in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU - A three-year-old boy living in the suburban Menggatal area here died of diphtheria, the third recent case in the country.

The child, who was not immunised, was from the migrant community, said Sabah Health Department director Dr Christina Rundi.

However, she said it was not an outbreak as cases of diphtheria were detected sporadically in Sabah, in apparent reference to migrant populations in the state where many may not have been immunised.

“There is a death due to diphtheria, but this is a sporadic case and not an outbreak as (said) in the viral message,” she said over a viral WhatsApp message about the death of a child on Monday.

Two children among 11 cases in Malacca and Kedah died of diphtheria earlier this month.

The state Health Department is continuously monitoring the situation and taking necessary precautionary measures.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam on Tuesday said the ministry wanted to educate the public on the importance of immunisation and to change the perception of anti-vaccination groups.