Residents anxious over high number of dengue cases

STAGNANT water in clogged drains, uncollected garbage, rubbish dumped in drains and illegal dumping ground — this was the sight greeting people just a stone’s throw away from the Penang Island City Council’s (MBPP) office at the Balik Pulau market complex in Penang.

Residents living near the complex at Lintang Bukit Penara 2 are concerned that if nothing is done soon by the authorities, dengue cases in that area would be on the rise.

Septuagenarian Tang Ah Mooy, 76, said she had fever on Jan 2 and went to the Balik Pulau Hospital, where she was told that she could be down with dengue.

“I had the symptoms of dengue fever such as body ache and high fever,” she said when met at her house on Sunday.

Durian estate worker Loh Yoon Wong, 46, said his wife Ooi Ah Poh, 47, was admitted at the Balik Pulau Hospital on Jan 5 and was only discharged on Jan 9, as she was down with dengue.

Businessman Khoo Cheng Leong, 55, said he and his wife Tan Pek Keow, 51, had symptoms of dengue such as fever, headache and body aches.

“We hope the council can help clear the clogged drains in our neighbourhood.

“Rubbish is thrown haphazardly into the drains and the garbage in the alley behind our house is not collected,” he said.

Khoo said he had complained to the council last week hoping that they would take swift action.

On Sunday, the southwest district Health Department’s vector unit came to inspect the area at about 10am.

The health personnel went door-to-door to inspect the houses and sprayed larvicide in the drains.

An officer said the department was informed about the dengue cases by the hospital.

When contacted, MBPP Urban Services Department director Mubarak Junus said he would investigate the residents’ complaints.