A girl, aged two years and five months in Butterworth was confirmed to have been infected by the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) virus, during a visit to her grandfather’s house in Bagan Jermal.

Penang Health director Dr Lailanor Ibrahim said an examination of the girl’s blood sample on June 24 showed she tested positive for JE.

“The girl was admitted to the Seberang Jaya Hospital on June 13 with fever and convulsions but later transferred to the Penang Hospital (HPP) when her condition worsened.

“At the hospital, the patient was treated at the pediatric ward’s intensive care unit (ICU) before she was transferred to a normal ward on June 18 after her condition improved,” he said in a statement in Butterworth last night.

According to HPP specialists, the girl was getting better after intensive treatment and the patient could now eat and drink.

“A serological test of her blood serum for JE on June 24 was found to be positive and today HPP was taking another sample from the patient for confirmation, and the result is expected to be out soon,” he said.

Earlier, a Year Six pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Selamat was confirmed with JE and is still being treated at a private hospital in Bayan Baru near Butterworth.

Muhammad Ammar Muqrish Zulkifli, 12, was initially thought to be having fever since May 18 and admitted to the Kepala Batas Hospital after the fever worsened and was later transferred to the private hospital on May 21.

His condition was reported to be improving.

- Bernama