Dengue cases jump 223%

Battling dengue: A DBKL Vector Control Unit personnel carrying out fogging at an abandoned building in Taman Goodwood Off Jalan Kuchai Lama, Kuala Lumpur. — YAP CHEE HONG/ The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Dengue cases in the country saw a massive 223% spike in the first quarter of the year compared with the same period last year.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that as of March 25, a total of 26,222 dengue cases were recorded, compared with 8,124 cases in the corresponding period last year.

He also said the number of deaths due to dengue complications had risen by 400% to 17 from four deaths last year.

He said this in the Parliament building after chairing the Cabinet committee meeting to address dengue.

The highest number of cases was recorded in Selangor, with a total of 13,510 cases, followed by Sabah (2,685), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (2,430), Penang (2,113), and Johor (1,758).

Ahmad Zahid said the government had taken various measures, including having non-governmental organisations and volunteer doctors go to the ground, especially in hotspots, based on a schedule.

He said the government has also allocated about RM240mil a year to address issues faced by dengue patients.

“So, we are looking at new approaches as we aim to achieve a zero-dengue target.

“This includes using BioGel bait, in the form of hydrogel beads, that can attract and kill mosquitoes,” he added.

Other methods include the use of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes to biologically control the spread of dengue.

“We will continue to take proactive measures and outside-the-box methods to reduce the cases and achieve our zero-dengue aim,” he said.

The Cabinet committee meeting also took note of the resource constraints faced by the Health Ministry and local authorities, but Ahmad Zahid said the government will utilise existing resources, including mobilising assets under the National Disaster Management Agency outside of the flood season.