New Straits Times 3 Mar 14;
KUALA LUMPUR: According to statistics by the Health Ministry, there has been a 400 per cent increase in dengue cases in the first two months of this year, compared with the same period last year.
There were 18,047 dengue cases with 36 deaths in January and last month, compared with 4,250 cases with eight deaths in the same period last year.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr. S Subramaniam said the public were advised to take the spike in cases seriously. They should take necessary measures to wipe out breeding grounds of the Aedes mosquito.
"With the present water woes, the public should make sure stored water does not become breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitos. It is important that water containers are closed and added with abate to kill any larvae."
Dr Subramaniam said the public could get their supply of chemical to kill Aedes mosquito larvae from health offices nationwide.
A total of 110 hotspots had been identified in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan from January to Feb 22, involving 46 locations in Petaling, 39 in Hulu Langat, 15 in Seremban, six in Gombak and four in Klang.
During this period, Selangor recorded 8,936 dengue cases with 11 deaths, Perak (1,133 cases with three deaths), the Federal Territories and Putrajaya (1,561 cases with three deaths), Negeri Sembilan (1,066 cases with one death), Johor (1,064 cases with five deaths), Kelantan (652 cases with one death), Penang (376 cases with three deaths), and Kedah (142 cases with one death).
Dengue cases rise fourfold
florence a. samy The Star 3 Mar 14;
KAJANG: Dengue cases have increased by more than fourfold so far this year, as compared with the same period last year.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said as of Feb 28, 18,047 dengue cases and 36 deaths were reported throughout the country compared with 4,250 cases and eight deaths for the first two months of 2013.
“This concerns us a great deal. We are increasing the awareness and steps to eradicate dengue,” he said here yesterday after launching the Jom Hapus programme aimed at wiping out Aedes breeding grounds.
MCA vice-president Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun, who is the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Kajang by-election, was among those present to lend support.
Dr Subramaniam said the number of cases was higher because of the change in the variation of the dengue virus.
“The current serotype, DEN-2, discovered last year, is more virulent,” he said.
Selangor recorded the highest number of deaths (13), followed by Johor (seven) and Perak, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya that had three deaths each.
Selangor also had the highest number of cases from January until Feb 28 at 9,946 compared with only 1,877 for the same period last year.
This is followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 1,697 cases compared to 250, Perak with 1,247 compared with 347 and Johor with 1,148 against 374. Penang recorded 404 cases, as compared with 140 previously.
He said all states recorded a jump in cases.
Dr Subramaniam, who joined in the gotong-royong to help clean the drains and the Taman Seri Jenaris neighbourhood, said civic consciousness among the public needed to be increased.
“We must know what to do and what not to do. Some think that their neighbourhoods are rubbish dumps. They throw rubbish everywhere especially into drains, causing problems.
“The Government can help to clean them but we need the public’s cooperation as well,” he said, adding that stagnant water was the breeding ground for mosquitoes.
He said proper infrastructure, clog-free drains and scheduled solid waste management could help eliminate breeding places.
“It is important for rubbish especially large items to be picked up according to schedule so that residents can plan properly. It also prevents rubbish from being left out in the open for too long.
“All need to play their part, including local councils, the community and those working in construction sites,” he said.
Dr Subramaniam also urged those storing water to cover containers to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.
For those using mosquito sprays or repellents, he said the ideal time to do so was between 6am and 8am and between 5pm and 8pm.
