UMMC overwhelmed by dengue patients

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) is now overwhelmed with dengue patients and the hospital management has made an appeal that patients with minor ailments not related to dengue to seek treatment in other government clinics or hospitals nearest to them.

UMMC director Prof Datuk Dr Ikram Shah Ismail said the hospital had 1,084 beds with bed occupancy rate of almost 99% of the figures.

"We appeal to the public to cooperate with us and not to come here if they have minor ailments but to go to government clinics or government hospitals nearest to them instead," he said in a press conference Thursday.

Dr Ikram said the public's cooperation could ease the waiting time for dengue patients who had to wait for seven to eight hours before they could be admitted.

He said that there was a surge in the number of dengue cases in UMMC.

In October last year, there were 86 patients admitted and in November, 93, and December, 154. The figures went up to 261 in January and there are 96 cases in February to date.

There have been no dengue deaths reported in UMMC, he said.