Mahaizura Abd Malek, New Straits Times, 7 Oct 13;
PASIR GUDANG: The dengue fever outbreak in Johor is under control even though the number of cases reported have increased by nearly 100 per cent from January to September, compared with the same period last year.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said health inspectors were conducting inspections regularly.
He said the department would only declare that there was an outbreak of dengue fever when there were three reported cases in any one area.
"If there is only one reported case of dengue in an area, then that is not an epidemic," he said.
"A team of health officials will be immediately tasked to monitor and identify Aedes breeding grounds when a case is reported, to prevent the spread of the disease.
"So far, we have identified several dengue hot spots in Kampung Cempaka and Kampung Kurnia in Johor Baru, Taman Kampung Cempaka in Kluang and Bukit Siput in Segamat," he said at the launch of a health campaign in conjunction with World Heart Day 2013.
A total of 1,707 cases of dengue fever was reported in Johor from January to September.
This is an increase of 846 cases or 96 per cent compared with the same period last year.
"Of these, there were seven cases of dengue fever deaths in Johor Baru involving the elderly," said Ayub.
"All the victims who died had chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease and diabetes."
