Dengue claims eight lives in Johor this year
JOHOR BARU: Dengue claimed eight lives in Johor between January 1 and April 22 this year.
State Health, Environment, Education and Information committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said the districts that record highest number of dengue cases were Johor Baru, Batu Pahat and Kulai districts.
The victims who succumbed to the deadly disease were aged between eight and 67 years.
Five of them were from Johor Baru, two in Segamat and one in Kluang.
In a statement issued today, he said, one of the reasons for the increase in cases is due to people's attitude of throwing rubbish irresponsibly in housing estates.
"The irresponsible rubbish throwing has led to aedes breeding," he said, adding that 20 new aedes breeding grounds were identified in Johor Baru besides the existing 58 hotspots.
Ayub also attributed the increase to the hot and heavy rain weather condition.
Between January 1 and April 22 this year, there were 2,098 cases with eight deaths reported as compared to 6,059 cases and 11 deaths during the same period last year.
Ayub urged members of the public to adhere to the health authorities advise of putting their rubbish in proper garbage bags and disposing them as authorised and to destroy aedes breeding grounds.