KUANTAN: Pahang is recording an immense upswing in dengue cases by up to 207% in the first two months of the year compared to the same time period last year.
State Health Department director Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the situation was still under control but the upward trend was worrying.
“Up to March 1, there are 618 reported dengue cases, which is an increase by 417 cases compared to 2014. There has also been two deaths in Bentong and Bera,” he said during a meet-the-press session here on Friday.
Dr Zainal said Kuantan was the worst-hit district with 427 cases, followed by Temerloh (76), Jerantut (42), Maran (30), Bera (18), Raub (nine), Lipis (six), Bentong (five), Pekan (four) and Rompin (one).
He added that there were currently six active outbreak localities with one of them being a hotspot.
“The localities under control in Kuantan are Taman Mahkota Jaya, Taman PAKR Kg. Padang 2, Taman Bukit Goh Perdana, Lengkok Kanan Tanah Putih and Taman Desa Jaya in Maran while the hotspot is Taman Pasdec Jaya, Kuantan,” said Dr Zainal.
He said the matter had been brought up to the state executive council and the department was taking proactive measures to tackle the problem.
“The problem can be attributed to the warm season with the occasional bouts of rain. There are too many Aedes mosquito breeding grounds in housing areas.
“From January to February 21, we have taken preventive and control measures by fogging 225,854 premises and conducted inspections at 58,113 premises,” said Dr Zainal, adding that up to 129 compounds had been issued totaling RM64,500.
He urged those who showed symptoms of infection to immediately seek medical assistance at the nearest fever centres in government health clinics rather than going to the hospital.
“We have opened fever centres at the clinics since the Chinese New Year. Please go straight there and do not wait. We are trying to divert patients to these centres because if everyone converge at the hospital, treatment is going to be delayed by the long wait,” he said.
