MIRI – More than two dozen people from the minority ethnic Penan group have been infected by Covid-19, indicating that the disease is moving rapidly across the Baram jungles of northern Sarawak.
Two separate sources told The Vibes that Penan villagers are seeing swift infections among their communities in the remote settlements of Long Kevok, Long Latie, Long Layun, Long Win and Long Luteng.
Last week, a Penan housewife from the Long Kuten settlement was infected, and died after being transported to Miri Hospital.
Baram People’s Action Committee chairman Philip Jau told The Vibes the infection is spreading from settlement to settlement.
“The transmission is picking up pace even as we speak, following the death of the Penan woman in Long Luteng. More and more Penan settlements are now infected,” said Jau.
When contacted, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau said he had rushed to the Long Bedian clinic.
“Yes, Covid-19 is spreading from settlement to settlement.
“So far, as of today, I heard that Long Win has more than 20 confirmed Covid-19 cases plus numerous cases detected in Long Kevok, Long Latie, Long Layun and Long Luteng.
“I have just arrived at the Long Bedian clinic, which serves the Penan areas.
“We need to quickly vaccinate the Penan and other folks, but the logistical problems of locating them in their jungle farms are massive,” he said.
Asked about a probable reason as to how Covid-19 could be spreading so swiftly, both Ngau and Jau said it could be due to movement of virus carriers from outer areas into Baram, which in turn causes infection to spread among the natives in the Baram settlements.
“The police must set up more roadblocks at every strategic route connecting the Baram frontiers to stop outsiders moving in and out,” said Jau.
Ngau said the state Health Department and state Disaster Management Committee have been alerted of the latest surge in infections in the Baram jungle. – The Vibes, June 14, 2021
