Leptospirosis & Typhoid Outbreak in Johor, Malaysia.

Mohd Ghazali, Ahmad Nizal
Dr Ahmad Nizal Mohd GhazaliBorn and live in Malaysia. Studied medicine in University of Otago, New Zealand and Malaysia University, Sarawak (UNIMAS). Did the Master of Public Health (MPH) in National University of Malaysia (UKM) and currently working in Segamat District Health Office, Johor, Malaysia.

i). Leptospirosis, also known as Weil's disease is a zoonotic infection, caused by pathogenic spirochete bacteria of the genus leptospira that is transmitted from animals to human. Human infection is transmitted via direct contact with the bacteria through contaminated urine, blood, or infected tissue from animal reservoirs especially rodents (and rats) or indirectly from contaminated water and soil. In this research, 478 environmental samplings of water and soils were analysed from several recreational water spots in State of Johor, Malaysia from January 2014-March 2018 to detect the presence of pathogenic leptospira. Rat study was also done in Gunung Ledang Waterfall Resort, Tangkak, Johor, Malaysia in 2014 and 2017. ii). Typhoid fever is a food and waterborne disease, caused by gram negative bacteria, Salmonella typhi. In Malaysia, the incidence rate is below 1 per 100,000 populations, but endemic in some areas, particularly in East Malaysia and East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The source of infection was seldom found. The typhoid outbreak in Segamat, Johor, Malaysia in Mac 2018-May 2018 highlighted the management and investigations of the outbreak.