Fears over Disease Outbreak in Flood-Devastated Malaysia

The outbreak of diseases is now feared in the flood-devastated states in the southern part of Malaysia, as more than 100,000 people remain in over-crowded emergency shelters.

Two evacuees have already died from leptospirosis - a disease caused by exposure to water which is contaminated by animal urine, such as rats, reports Reuters. Their deaths have raised the current death toll to fifteen.

Since the floods hit Malaysia last month, more than one 100,000 evacuees have been staying in over-crowded emergency shelters.

Health officers have laid down inoculation plans to prevent typhoid and also to fumigate mosquito-prone areas to protect the people from dengue fever or malaria. A warning on cholera has also been issued.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of flood victims are also facing food and basic supplies shortages.

"We don't have blankets, mattresses, pillows, soaps, infant's milk at this relief centre," said Mohamad Jamian, 57, who is taking refuge at a school in the worst-hit Johor state.

The floods which have hit Malaysia have caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to the region and displaced more than 100,000 people. According to reports, this is the worst flood Malaysia has seen for the past forty years.