KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia has recorded its third death from diphtheria, this time involving a three-year-old boy from Menggatal.

This marks the third such death in the country, after two children’s fatalities were recorded from 11 diphtheria cases in Kedah and Malacca recently.

Sabah Health director Dr Christina Rundi confirmed the Menggatal case but denied rumours of an outbreak, as claimed in a chain WhatsApp message.

As of June 18, the department’s epidemiology bulletin has recorded two diphteria cases in Tawau.

Diphtheria, a vaccine-preventable-disease, is caused by a bacterial infection that affect the mucous membranes of the throat and nose or even airway.

The disease can also cause life-threatening complications such as myocarditis, paralysis, or kidney failure.

A vaccine against diphtheria is administered when the child is at two, three and four months.

A booster dose is also administered on the 18th month.

The slew of children’s death from the preventable disease has triggered a fresh debate in Malaysia on the growing anti-vaccine movement.-nst