Breathing issues, vomiting at Pasir Gudang schools could be due to pigeon droppings, says Johor gov't

Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar

JOHOR BAHRU, July 23 (Bernama) -- The state government is not ruling out the possibility that the recurrence of breathing issues and vomiting among pupils of SK Tanjung Puteri Resort in Pasir Gudang, here, could also be due to pigeon droppings in some of the classes.

State Health and Culture Committee chairman Mohd Khuzzan Abu Bakar said the bird droppings had been affecting some of the school students for quite some time due to the unpleasant odour.

"This may also be among the factors (causing the students to experience shortness of breath and vomiting). So we request the Ministry of Education to immediately address this, because you ladies and gentlemen (the journalists present there) have already seen the condition (of the area affected by bird droppings)," he told reporters after visiting the school here today.

Meanwhile, Education, Human Resources, Science and Technology Committee chairman Aminolhuda Hassan, who also visited the school said the bird droppings were not only found on the ground floor, but also on the school's fourth-floor balcony.

"This has been happening for a long time now. Otherwise, how can there be such a large amount of droppings?

"I was also informed that the ministry had come to visit (the school) and it is hoped that action will be taken to prevent the birds from entering the roofs of the classrooms and that cleaning works can be implemented immediately, because its adverse effects on breathing can be seen, which is not suitable for children, especially those under 12," he said.

Apart from that, he urged the school's administration to temporarily use other classes to avoid causing the students further discomfort.

Meanwhile, Johor Health Department director Dr Selahuddeen Abd Aziz said the bird droppings could cause more severe breathing difficulties for students compared to what they were currently experiencing.

"In health terminology, we call it 'hypersensitivity pneumonitis' or 'Pigeon Breeder's Lung' which may lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, but it depends on how long they have been exposed to the droppings," he said.

-- BERNAMA