JOHOR BARU: The number of dengue cases in Johor for epidemiology week 42 (ME42) went up to 8,422 compared to 2,755 cases recorded in the same period in 2022.
Johor Health and Unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the number of cases registered in 2023 shows an increase of 206%.
“From the total 8,442 cases recorded as of Oct 23 this year, 3,432 cases or 40.7% are epidemic locality while 5,010 or 59.3% are non-epidemic locality,’’ he said.
Ling said ME42 saw a decline in new dengue fever cases, with 209 against 239 cases recorded in ME41 (Oct 16).
He said of the 209 cases, 160 reported cases are in Johor Baru, followed by Kulai (15) and Kota Tinggi with eight cases.
Ling said Batu Pahat, Kluang and Segamat have six cases each, Pontian has four, Tangkak has two, and Muar and Mersing each with one case.
He added there were three deaths recorded in ME42, bringing the total deaths to 18, against one death recorded during the same period in 2022.
“We have issued 4,759 compound notices totalling RM2.31mil so far this year to owners of premises found to be breeding places of Aedes mosquitoes, and 63.9% paid the fines,’’ said Ling.
On the Covid-19 situation, he said there were 400,979 cumulative cases in Johor as of Oct 21, 2023, of which 397,913 were local infections and 3,066 were imported cases.
“Currently, 13 Covid-19 patients are being treated in hospitals, and no patients have been admitted to the intensive care unit,’’ said Ling.
He added Johor did not record a drastic increase in Covid-19 cases for the past few months, and the bed usage at hospitals for Covid-19 patients was below 1.0%.
Ling said the state recorded 492 cases of Covid-19 Subvariant XXB as of Oct 14, 2023 with 272 cases in Johor Baru, Muar (61), Kulai (41), Batu Pahat (35), Kluang (25), Kota Tinggi (24), Pontian (16), Tangkak (14), Segamat with three cases and one in Mersing.
“The Covid-19 situation in Johor is under control, although there are cases of the Covid-19 Subvariant XXB in the state,’’ he said.
Ling also advised those who have not received the booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to immediately register and get the vaccine to protect themselves and their families.
