Life as usual despite MERS-CoV case in Johor

BATU PAHAT - Villagers of Kampung Bintang here were carrying on with their lives as usual yesterday despite some being confined to their homes following the death of a man to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) on Sunday.

Villager Mustapha Ismail, 63, said the authorities did not place any restrictions on villagers and they were free to roam in the village.

"Only those who had direct contact with the deceased were ordered to be confined to their homes so that they can be monitored."

Mustapha said the villagers were ordered to undergo a check-up at a temporary health counter set up in the village.

Housewife Rozita Ahmad, 36, said she was at first worried when told that a villager had died from the disease.

"I then took my family for a check-up as my four children often went to the deceased's grocery shop to buy snacks. I was relieved when we were all cleared."

A total of 64 villagers were confined to their homes for a week after showing symptoms of the MERS-CoV.

In a statement yesterday, Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry would be working with the state health department to carry out prevention and control activities in high-risk areas.