Warning as 10 die from rat disease

Officials in Malaysia have closed parks and warned the public about swimming and dumping rubbish in rivers after up to 10 people died from a disease spread by rats.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Aug 2010, 23:03 BST
Updated 23rd Aug 2010, 23:03 BST

The latest reported death from the bacterial disease leptospirosis was on Saturday.

A 17-year-old youth in northern Kedah state had swum in a river and had a picnic with friends at a recreational park last month, the New Straits Times and The Star reported.

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Several parks throughout the country have been closed since the first deaths were reported last month. Some deaths were believed to have been caused by a separate waterborne disease, and a Health Ministry official could not immediately say how many were due to leptospirosis.

Cases of the disease have been increasing in Malaysia. It killed 62 people last year.