Hot spell spells Aedes danger

PETALING JAYA: The current hot spell can bring dehydration and heatstroke. And it can also bring the Aedes mosquito into your home.

So, it is important that breeding grounds are eliminated, says Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said the dry spell can cause a spike in vector and water-borne diseases.

Extreme hot weather can cause people to feel fatigued, besides causing dehydration and heatstroke.

Dr Noor Hisham said there could also be related problems such as food contamination, and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI), asthma and conjunctivitis.

He said senior citizens and children were at high risk of contracting such illnesses.

He advised the public to drink enough water, limit outdoor activities and wear hats or carry an umbrella to be protected from the sun.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili called on all water concessionaires to closely monitor water levels at dams.

As of now, he said there was no report of a water supply shortage anywhere in the peninsula and Labuan.

Dr Ongkili said the water rationing in some areas in Johor Baru was due to a lack of rain at the Sungai Lebam and Sungai Layang catchment areas last year, and failure to manage the water resources.

Last week, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said peninsular Malaysia, Limbang and Miri in Sarawak, and Sabah would experience hot and dry weather until March.

The weather condition is a result of the El Nino phenomenon, which is expected to reduce rainfall by between 20% and 60% and cause temperatures to rise between 0.5°C and 2°C.