Dr Subra: Dengue situation expected to be worse this year

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