Number of dengue cases dropping; death toll at 212
GEORGE TOWN: Although the number of dengue cases has dropped in several states in the 32nd week of the year, there were still 11 deaths reported, bringing total death rate to 212 as of Aug 15.
Director-General of Health, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said they have also recorded 75,795 cases between January 1 and August 15.
He said they have also identified 994 aedes hotspots between Aug 9 and Aug 15 in 12 states, namely 599 in Selangor, 233 (Johor), 41 (Perak), 32 (Kelantan), 19 (Penang), 18 (Malacca), 17 (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) and 11 in Negri Sembilan.
"The other states recorded less than 10 aedes hotspots," he said in a statement.
Dr Noor Hisham said the main cause for the dengue outbreak is the failure of keeping the surrounding clean and thus its important for the relevant authorities and members of the public to "search and destroy" all aedes breeding sites.
The involvement of the private sector such as Sanofi Pasteur Sdn Bhd to help prevent dengue through the programme "Dengue Patrol" involving more than 160 schools and 4,000 over students as an agent of change was commendable.
He said schoolchildren can play a proactive role by encouraging family and friends to clean their houses and surroundings and destroy aedes mosquito sites every week.
Meanwhile, Penang has recorded 3,453 dengue fever cases as at Aug 22 compared to 1,236 for the corresponding period in 2014 which is a 179.37% increase.
State Health committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said 92 dengue fever cases were reported from Aug 16 to Aug 22, an increase of 9.5% compared to the same period last year.
There have been eight deaths so far this year compared to five deaths for the same period last year, he added.
He said four dengue fever hotspots have been detected which are Jalan York, the Sri Saujana and Sri Wangsa apartments and Lengkok Kenari.
The situation was under control in 16 locations including Kampung Baru, Pintasan Cecil, Lintang Sungai Ara and Taman Sri Rambai, and the people are urged to take preventive measures to stop the spread of the disease, he said today.
During a technical visit at Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim earlier, Afif said a grading system will be established to curb the spread of the disease.
He said Communication for Behavioural Impact (COMBI) teams will check houses for mosquito breeding grounds and give grades for each house.
The grades will be used by councils and relevant authorities in follow-up action and monitoring purposes, he said.
“The public must do their part in making sure there are no breeding grounds for mosquitoes in their homes,” he added.