Increase in dengue fever cases from Feb 19-25

PUTRAJAYA: Dengue fever cases increased in the eighth week of 2017 (Feb 19 to Feb 25) with 1,937 cases, compared to 1,915 the week before.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pix) said there were six fatal cases during the week, bringing the total number of dengue deaths this year to 40.
However, he said, the death figure was lower compared to 54 fatalities in the same period last year.
"Residents in areas with dengue cases are encouraged to use mosquito repellent spray and give full cooperation to health personnel to carry out fogging besides ensuring that compounds are free of aedes breeding grounds."
Dr Noor Hisham said the total cumulative cases reported from January to Feb 25 were 14,513 cases, a fall of 43% compared to 25,403 cases for the same period in 2016.
The five states with increased dengue cases compared to the week before are Perak, Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Melaka, Kedah and Pahang, he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said from Feb 15 to March 2, the Health Ministry received reports of Chikungunya cases in Baling, Kedah and Gombak, Selangor.
He said during the period, blood tests confirmed 50 Chikungunya cases in which 36 were in Baling and 14 in Gombak, with the latest reported on March 1.
Dr Noor Hisham said the localities of the reported Chikungunya cases were Taman Batu Pekaka, Jalan Market, Taman Orkid, Taman Insaniah, Taman Sheikh Fadzir, Taman Tanjung Puteri and Kampung Jernang, while in Gombak the cases were found in Kampung Simpang Tiga. — Bernama