Kuala Lumpur - A second illegal immigrant from Myanmar held in a Malaysian detention centre has died from leptospirosis, a rare disease caused by a bacteria found in animal urine, news reports said Tuesday.

Camp officials said 26-year-old Sa La Hin, who had been detained in Juru camp in the state of Penang since January, died late Sunday just six days after a fellow Myanmar national and detainee, Thang Hoih Ping, died of the same disease.

A total of 24 detainees - 22 from Myanmar and two from Bangladesh - are currently being warded for having symptoms of the highly-contagious disease, Immigration Department Director-General Abdul Rahman Othman was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal.

He said the department has ordered all migrant detention camps in the country to increase hygiene standards and cleanliness levels, including the preparation of food and drinks.

"We have yet to obtain an official report from the Health Department on the two deaths as well as the actual cause of the outbreak.

"However, we have taken precautionary measures by stationing a medical team on daily shift duty at the Juru camp to closely monitor the situation," said Abdul Rahman.

He denied claims that the outbreak was due to overcrowding at the camp, adding that authorities were currently investigating if the contamination could have come from food and drinks served.

Leptospirosis can be spread through water contaminated with the bacteria. The bodily fluids of infected patients can also transmit the disease.

Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea and muscle aches. In more severe cases, the illness can result in liver damage, kidney failure, and internal bleeding. (dpa)