Hidden danger in Moyog flood waters?

Kota Kinabalu: A part-time Daily Express reporter recently spent three nights in hospital fighting a dangerous infection called Melioidosis that has affected his kidneys and which a medical consultant suspects could be due to contact with filthy flood waters of Moyog.

Melioidosis is a caused by a bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei and the infection commonly involves the lungs. It is diagnosed with the help of blood, urine, sputum, or skin-lesion testing and is treated with antibiotics.

Recounting the circumstances which led to his infection, the 64-year-old is grateful for the dedication of doctors and nurses at Queen Elizabeth Hospital II (QEH) for saving his life.

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  He said a niece was admitted to the KPJ also for flood germs suspected due to leptospirosis - also from floods. 

“It’s not about me, but more about the dangers of floods. How many people have to die from this flood before the government does something?” he said. 

 He said the Moyog River is so polluted with crocodile farms, pig farms and hill cutting that it’s unsafe for humans to reside along its banks, especially when it overflows.

 “The medical consultant said the Moyog waters have it all, from faeces of septic tanks and sewage treatment plants of developed areas to those of livestock and even from crocodile farms allowed there.

 “The hospital did a good job but the government, all of them, grossly failed on the floods,” he said. 

  By Oct. 6 I was already in delirium at home with high fever I thought was malaria. By Oct. 8 I was begging for help at a Polyclinic in Penampang but they sent me home with a bunch of antibiotic. 

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 “They told me go to QEH if no improvement. By Oct. 9, I chose to go QEH2 instead of QEH1. They tested my blood and sent me home. 

 “At 9am the next day they called me back to get admitted for kidney treatment. On drip for three days, they sent me home on Oct. 13 still weak at home. 

 “On Oct. 20 the Health Department called me, telling me that it’s better to go back to the ward. I was detected with malaria DNA. I was furious. 

 “Sample taken on Oct 8, only 13 days later you drag me to hospital? If it was real malaria, seven days I am dead. The laboratory took its sweet time. 

 “Any way I admitted myself on Oct 21. During the second ward stay, I was not sick anymore but just to comply with legal requirements to be supervised to take malarial pills. 

 “I was discharged on Oct 24 still weak from damaged kidney. I don’t think I will go out of house for a month. I have three medic machine, Blood Pressure meter, glucose and scanner thermometer,” he said. 

 On whether he was given Covid-19 test while at hospital he said “Three times.”

 “You cannot be admitted into wards now unless a nose swab is taken and shown negative, only then you are admitted. At emergency section of QE1 and QE2, a big tent is erected. 

 “You lie there at least six hours waiting for test results to be negative. Now you imagine suffering of patients these days.

 “Now its difficult times. People not aware, the hospitals are stretched to the limit. Advise your family this is the wrong time to get sick. No unnecessary drinking session or smoking. 

 “Any small ailment I prefer not to go hospital. It’s not just a place to get cured but maybe a place to be infected too,” he said.