Despite gov’t efforts, dengue cases soar 156pct; 49 fatalities in 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite many initiatives rolled out by the Health Ministry and its agencies, dengue cases in the country continue to rise .

From Jan 1 to March 7 this year, 28,580 cases of the viral disease were reported nationwide, compared to 11,146 cases in the same period last year – an increase of 156.4 per cent.

In the same period, 49 people died from dengue, compared to 26 fatalities in the same period in 2018 – an increase of 88.5 per cent.

“Selangor recorded the highest number of dengue cases at 16,534 in the same period,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed at a press conference after launching the Gotong-Royong Mega Perangi Aedes 2019 programme here, today.

He said prevention programmes rolled out by the ministry’s enforcement unit since the beginning of the year saw 278 compounds worth RM139,000 issued.

Despite this, Dr Dzulkefly stressed that dengue is a disease which is difficult to eradicate in a short time, as mosquitoes breed continuously.

“We must always be on alert for dengue outbreaks in our areas, and take swift action (should one arise).

“We should all take responsibility to keep our homes and environments clean. If we don’t do this… there will be massive mosquito outbreaks, especially in dengue-prone areas,” he warned.

On the use of Wolbachia-infected Aedes mosquitoes to combat dengue in outbreak-prone areas in the Klang Valley, Dr Dzulkefly said that the ministry is considering using the mechanism in other states as well.

He said Penang, the state which pioneered the usage of the technology, has seen effective results.

Dr Dzulkefly said that the programme will be rolled out in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur beginning July.

Source: NST