The dengue threat is real

Containers left behind allow for Aedes mosquitoes to breed. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

BUKIT MERTAJAM: In all open cemeteries, people sometimes leave things behind after paying respects to the departed without realising that some of those items will collect rainwater and draw Aedes mosquitoes to lay their eggs.

“It is a statistical fact that the number of dengue cases will rise near any kind of cemetery after any festival to honour the dead and this was found to be because people leave behind containers that collect rainwater.

“This is a national incident affecting all areas near cemeteries. All local governments nationwide work hard to get the public and cemetery management boards to keep this under control,” said state environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh.

Cemetery management boards have put volunteers on patrols to ensure that all litter is collected.

Many rubbish bins had also been made available, he added.

“However, some people still feel the need to leave offerings in containers at gravesides,” said Phee.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) medical entomologist Assoc Prof Dr Nur Faeza Abu Kassim said Aedes mosquitoes prefer clear to cloudy water.

“Rather than depositing their eggs into the water, the Aedes mosquito stick the eggs onto a container’s surface. The eggs can last a year. When there is water again, the eggs can hatch,” she said.

At a cemetery on mainland Penang, Foo Joo Chiek, 50, was seen with cleaning up an ancestral grave after prayers at the Penanti Chinese Cemetery.

“Every year, we clean the grave and discard all the rubbish. We know the risk of dengue outbreaks,” he said.

His cousin Pang Hoo Yuen, 47, from Seremban, also said he was aware that nothing must be left behind that could collect water.

Form Six student Lee Ying Shin, 20, said her family would leave their ancestors’ graves completely clean.

“My parents always remind us not to leave any containers or food behind,” she said.

However, there were several containers with food offerings, joss sticks and candles seen left behind at the cemetery.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has said the cumulative number of dengue cases reported so far this year is 26,222, compared with 8,124 in the same period last year, an increase of 18,098 or 222.8%.

There have been 17 deaths compared to only four during the same period in 2022.

Qing Ming falls on Wednesday but the observance can be performed 10 days before or after the actual date.