LAILI ISMAIL New Straits Times 3 Nov 16;
KUALA LUMPUR: Dengue cases in Malaysia are the decline, with 89,243 cases recorded as of October 29 compared to 100,665 cases in the corresponding period last year.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, speaking in Parliament today, said the cumulative cases indicated an 11.3 per cent (11,422) drop.
"Meanwhile, the cumulative dengue death toll as of October 29 stands at 202 compared to 277 deaths in the corresponding period last year which indicates a 27.1 per cent drop (75 deaths)," said the Segamat MP in response to a question by PKR's Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul.
The downward trend in dengue cases, Dr Subramaniam said, could be attributed to the integrated efforts and actions of ministries, agencies and the community at large in preventing dengue.
"This has been recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on October 10 at the WHO regional committee for the Western Pacific's 67th session in Manila.
"In her speech, WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan praised Malaysia's strategy in preventing and controlling dengue fever by implementing cleanliness campaigns at national level and involving the community," he said.
Johari had asked the Health Ministry to state its efforts in spurring expertise and financial resources to find methods and vaccines to overcome dengue.
Dr Subramaniam said there was only one vaccine produced in the country by a private company, called Dengvaxia.
"A dengue vaccine committee involving relevant experts has been formed at the ministry level to research the extent of the vaccine's efficiency, in accordance with suggestion provided by WHO's strategic advisory group of experts," he said.
