A TEAM comprising a health officer and inspectors have been deployed to a camp near Sungai Kalai in Ulu Baram, Miri following preliminary reports of meliodosis cases and multiple fatalities.
According to reports in The Borneo Post, the Miri health office had confirmed receiving such reports.
Health officer Dr P. Raviwharmman Packierisamy said a team has been dispatched to the site to conduct investigations, screen other individuals with symptoms and make early referrals to the nearest healthcare facilities.
"The team will also carry out health education, sanitation, and disease control measures,” he told The Borneo Post.
The camp was located about nine to ten hours' drive from Miri using off-road timber tracks.
Dr Raviwharmman said the health office has been working closely with the camp’s management and cooperation has been constructive.
"The situation remains isolated and is currently under control," he said.
It is understood that four men have died in recent weeks, with the most recent fatality recorded on Saturday, July 19.
The individual reportedly passed away while receiving treatment at Miri Hospital.
The series of deaths has reportedly raised concern and unease among nearby village communities, prompting heightened monitoring by the authorities.
Melioidosis is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei.
It's primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.
The infection can range from mild, with few or no symptoms, to severe, potentially causing pneumonia, abscesses, or septic shock. - July 20, 2025
