Closure forced by deadly fungal invasion

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New JB hospital shut down

Closure forced by deadly fungal invasion

Faulty aircon causes spread

Other problems: Bad sewage and oxygen piping

Picture/ CHINA PRESS

DEADLY fungi found on the walls and equipment forced the closure of

Johor Baru's new RM558 million ($253 million) specialist hospital

yesterday.

Faulty air-conditioning had apparently led to the aspergillus and

penicillium fungi spreading throughout the hospital at the two-month-

old Sultan Ismail Specialist Hospital.

Experts say these fungi can cause life-threatening illness, reported

the New Straits Times.

FOUND ON OPENING DAY

Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the fungi had been

detected the day the hospital opened to the public.

'At first, the authorities thought it was a minor problem and they

could overcome it without having to postpone the opening.

'But after about two months, the fungi had spread beyond control...,'

he told The Star.

He said there were other serious defects as well.

'The oxygen piping, and the sewerage system are also posing

problems,' he said.

Datuk Chua said many of the hospital's equipment also did not meet

specifications set by the ministry.

'These problems are serious and we are not taking any risks.

'We are of the opinion it is best to close the hospital so that we

can carry out remedial work without obstruction,' he said.

The Health Minister had issued the directive to close yesterday after

a technical committee recommended a complete shutdown.

The panel, comprising scientists from Universiti Malaya, Public Works

Department (PWD) engineers and officers from the ministry, came to

the decision after a study of the fungal invasion.

Datuk Chua said he had asked the Public Works Department to get the

contractor - Metro Health Sdn Bhd - to rectify the problem in three

to six months.

The hospital, also known as the Pandan Specialist Hospital, was

designed to be the top specialist centre in the south.

ONLY TREATING OUTPATIENTS

The 704-bed hospital is not fully operational and has been treating

only outpatients since July, said Harian Metro.

It has been plagued by problems since work began in 1999, with

completion delayed three times.

The PWD had to step in each time the contractor did not meet the

specifications.

Some of the equipment installed in the hospital also did not meet

minimum standards stipulated, compounding the delay.

Dr Chua said exposure to the fungi could cause a variety of problems

for patients and staff, including fatigue, cough, shortness of

breath, congestion, fever, nausea, and eye, ear and throat irritation.

'It can also lead to extremely severe, life-threatening diseases,' he

told the New Straits Times.

COMMON PROBLEM

Fungal invasion is common in hospitals worldwide, with entire

sections cordoned off at times to de-contaminate the area, the

newspaper said.

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FUNGAL DANGER

Aspergillus and penicillium are moulds most commonly found growing

indoors. They spread through the release of spores.

Moulds are likely to grow where there is water or prolonged dampness -

such as in bathrooms, basements or air-conditioning systems.

Those with weak immune systems and exposed to the moulds through

inhalation may develop asthma, pneumonitits, infections of the upper

airways, sinusitis or other lung complications.