KUALA LUMPUR -- Fourteen inmates of an detention center in Malaysia's southern Malacca state have been admitted to hospital for observation after an Indonesian illegal worker was hit by meningitis, officials said Saturday.

Chief State Minister Mohamed Ali Rustam said health officials were trying to trace the origin of the suspected meningitis outbreak.

"Health authorities are checking to determine the source of infection. The patients are placed at an isolation ward," he was quoted as saying by Bernama News Agency.

The ***Star*** newspaper said eight Indonesians, one Indian, one Cambodian, one Pakistani, two Bangladeshis and an unidentified migrant were warded after they complained of feeling unwell.

They were all in detention awaiting deportation to their home countries.

Khalid Kassim, deputy hospital director said the illegal workers detained at Machap Umboo were admitted because they had close contact with Indonesian national Mohrani Mislan, 29, who was admitted last Saturday for meningitis, AFP reported.

"We are monitoring them at the isolation ward and their conditions are stable," he was quoted as saying by the ***Star*** newspaper Saturday.