JOHOR BARU, March 16 — 70 to 90 per cent of cases of people receiving treatment at the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council Stadium medic base here, were due to panic following numerous rumours and untruths spread on the toxic wastes pollution in the KimKim River, last week.

Mercy Malaysia clinical psychologist Dr Azlina Roszy Mohd Gaffar said that, based on monitoring and observations up to yesterday, it was found that most of the cases referred there were related to panic.

‘‘(They) were anxious and worried because they did not know what to do and they had actually panicked.

‘‘So, when they panicked, they have symptoms such as hyperventilation or short of breath which is often compounded with problems they already have,’’ she told reporters at the stadium here.

In addition, Dr Azlina said air pollution also impacted badly on those who had asthma and heart problems, and panic would also worsen their conditions.

‘‘If not alleviated, we will admit them and they will be treated in accordance with the stipulated procedure. However, after we have seen, for sometime, for example, half-an-hour, one hour, and he feels better and is improving, and we see no other symptoms, it is indeed anxiety or panic,’’ she added.

In addition, panic too would also result in some people getting rashes, itch and headache, she said.

As of midnight, 65 new patients were warded due to the chemical wastes pollution, making the number of those who were still being treated at hospitals at 371 people.

As of 3pm yesterday, 4,035 people were treated due to the chemical wastes pollution. — Bernama