Malaysia: Dengue situation expected to be worse this year -- Health Minister

The Star 3 Mar 16;

KUALA LUMPUR: The dengue situation in the country is predicted to be worse this year compared with last year, following the 26,533 cases reported from January until March 2.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the figure showed an increase of over 1,500 compared with 25,028 cases over the same period last year.

"So far, there were 55 deaths recorded nationwide this year compared to 65 over the same period last year with over 2,800 new dengue cases reported each week throughout the country," he said Thursday.

Earlier, he launched the Mobile iDengue application, the result of a collaboration between the Health Ministry and Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, which was represented by its minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau at the launch.

Dr Subramaniam said the expected rise in dengue cases was due to certain factors including cleanliness level of the environment, unscheduled garbage collection and irresponsible public attitude, apart from Aedes mosquitoes being the main vector for the dengue outbreak.

"The Mobile iDengue application is an easy and fast method of delivering accurate information on the dengue situation," he said.

Dr Subramaniam said Selangor recorded the highest number of new dengue cases at 13,306 or 70 per cent of the total number nationwide, due to factors such as population density and type of human settlements in the state.

According to a statement from the Health Ministry, Selangor recorded 18 deaths from dengue, Penang and Terengganu (9 each), Negri Sembilan (5), Johor and Sarawak (3 each), Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (2), Pahang (2), and Kedah, Malacca, Kelantan and Sabah (one each).

In another development, Dr Subramaniam said the case of fried noodles containing glass shards which caused several students to fall ill, would be ready in three weeks.

Last Sunday, it was reported that seven pupils of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Ladang Nigel Gardner, Hulu Selangor were admitted to Sungai Buloh Hospital on Friday after eating their breakfast of fried mee hoon provided under the Supplementary Food Programme. - Bernama


Selangor records highest number of dengue cases
The Star 4 Mar 16;

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor has the highest number of dengue cases this year, with 13,306 between January and March 2.

Of the 55 dengue-linked deaths recorded nationwide within the same period, 18 were from Selangor, which has the highest fatality number among the states.

In the latest statistics released by the Health Ministry, Johor recorded the second highest cases with 3,966 while Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya had a total of 1,770. Penang had 1,247 cases, followed by Terengganu (1,140), Perak (1,031), Sabah (858), Negri Sembilan (732), Pahang (678), Malacca (574), Kelantan (555), Sarawak (418), Kedah (196), Perlis (60) and Labuan (two).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam cautioned this could be the worst year of the dengue epidemic, as indicated by the statistics.

“Last year was said to be the biggest dengue epidemic in history. But 2016 could be the biggest (epidemic),” he said at the launch of the iDengue mobile app here yesterday.

In total, 26,533 dengue cases were recorded nationwide between January and March 2, an increase of 1,505 cases compared with last year’s 25,028 cases over the same period.

He said several factors, including the environment, cleanliness and climate change, were causing the surge in dengue cases,

In Selangor, he said population density and type of housing could also play a factor.

“There were places where garbage collection was not carried out regularly.

“Residents also lack responsibility.

“There is a culture of throwing trash everywhere,” he added.

According to the statistics, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Terengganu had sharp spikes in cases.

Negri Sembilan recorded 732 cases so far this tear, compared with 383 last year.

Terengganu had 1,140 this year (335), and Johor recorded 3,966 (1,308).

The iDengue app is aimed at delivering the latest information on dengue to the public, including a map showing the location of dengue hotspots.

Information on the app is on real-time basis and synced with the Health Ministry’s iDengue website, a portal dedicated to providing information on dengue.

“With the app, people can take precautions to protect themselves and their families, and create a higher awareness level.

“This is an empowerment to the public on a wider scale. I hope Malaysians will download the free app on their phones,” Dr Subramaniam added.

The iDengue mobile app is available for Android and iOS devices.