PUTRAJAYA- The Health Ministry (KKM) is currently investigating the cause of pertussis (whooping cough) within three children in Kampung Bahagia, Rompin, Pahang.
Its minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the initial case was identified in a mother of the infected child.
"One of the patient's children was treated in hospital and discharged," she said during a press conference after witnessing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Strategic Cooperation in Health and Firefighting between the Health Ministry and the Local Government Development ministry (KPKT), today.
Also present was the KPKT minister, Nga Kor Ming.
Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, with germs spreading through the air when the patient sneezes or coughs and infecting the mouth, nose, and throat.
It can be avoided by giving immunisations to children at the ages of two, three, five and 18 months and children with immunity will only experience mild symptoms without the risk of complications if infected.