12yo M’sian Boy Dies of Influenza After Doctor Dismissed High Temperature As Common Fever

A 12-year-old disabled boy suspected to be infected with Influenza A died yesterday night (12th January). Sinar Harian reported that he had been suffering from a fever since Friday (10th January).

According to his mother, Nek Mudzlifah Abdul Kahar, 48, her son developed a fever and was brought to the clinic last Friday night.

The doctor said it was just a common fever with a body temperature of about 38 degrees Celsius.

However, the next night (11th January), the boy started having seizures and was brought to a private hospital. Doctors conducted further examination on the boy and confirmed that he was infected with Influenza A.

She said she and her husband had already taken precautionary actions but have no choice but to leave it to fate.

The woman said she is unsure how the boy got the infection, but before he was infected, her husband had a fever and got better with medication. She suspects that the infection may have been contracted from outdoors.

The mother then advises Malaysians that when young children contract a fever, it is better for them to undergo more in-dept examination especially during this Influenza A outbreak.

The clinic can take the initiative to recommend the patient for a blood test to ensure that the child is not infected.