MELAKA: Genetically modified mosquitoes (GMM) will be released in rural and suburban areas in the state following a steep increase in the cumulative number of dengue fever cases for the first four months of this year.
Melaka Health, Human Resources and Unity Committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem said cases soared by 103% or 322 cases compared to 158 cases for the same period in 2022.
"There are four active clusters in the state, two in Melaka Tengah district and one each in Alor Gajah and Jasin," he said on Sunday (May 7).
Ngwe said that Melaka Tengah has the highest number of cases with 241 cases followed by 52 cases in Jasin and 29 in Alor Gajah.
He said GMM will be released at a housing estate in Alor Gajah as part of a dengue-fighting programme.
“This is our long-term plan to eradicate the dengue menace in the state as such cases are showing an increasing trend despite a slew of prevention measures that have been embarked on over the years," he said.
Ngwe said the aim of using GMM is to suppress the local mosquito population and slash the dengue cases in the state.
“The previous GMM pilot project in urban areas has yielded results based on the field test and laboratory experiments," he said.
Ngwe said GMM is a scientifically proven method to combat dengue menace in the state.
He added that the state was also looking at other "innovative" ways to reduce the number of dengue cases in the state after a lack of desired results.
