PETALING JAYA, Oct 3 — The management of the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort Water Park has been told to install a chlorinator to safeguard against further rotavirus and acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks.

Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the dispersal of chlorine in water at the resort was not up to standards.

"The recommendation was made to the water park during a visit by the state health authorities following reports of several cases of rotavirus and AGE,” he said.

"It was also recommended that the management appoint a water quality manager with the appropriate qualifications or train an individual to carry out the task.”

A chlorinator is a machine that automatically disperses chlorine into a swimming pool at timed intervals to ensure the water is relatively safe from harmful organisms. 

Dr Noor Hisham said manual chlorination was inadequate and suggested a portable digital device be purchased to measure the chlorine, pH and nitrate content of the water.

"The management must ensure timely maintenance of the park’s water pumps to prevent a build up of harmful organisms.” 

He said the management needed to flush out the water in the park and to replace it with clean water as a precaution against any remaining viruses.

"The state health department is willing to offer its support to ensure this is done properly and for the public’s safety,” he said.

"The ministry will continue to monitor the outbreak and will ensure all standards are met before the park is allowed to operate.”

The park has been closed for 14 days following the discovery of rotaviruses and AGE in the water of the park.

Dr Noor Hisham reminded the public to be cautious and considerate when visiting water parks.

"Parents whose children are vomiting or suffering diarrhoea should not take their children to such places and to ensure they are not wearing disposable diapers while playing in the water.” 

As of Oct 1, a total of 46 cases of AGE have been recorded, of which 19 were later found to be rotavirus infections, in Penang, Perak and Kedah.

All are aged between one and 30 as the virus typically attacks younger people, especially those under five.

Yesterday, an additional seven cases of rotavirus were confirmed in Kedah and six in Penang. 

Kedah health director Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail said the patients were aged between 10 months and 29 years and had visited the water park on Sept 24.

Penang state health director Datuk Dr M. Sukumar said all cases confirmed yesterday were children aged one to eight.

However the cases have yet to be linked to visits to the water park, indicating localised transmission. 

AGE is described as being very unpleasant but typically clears up after a week without treatment.