Dengue cases rise with two deaths in EPI week 45

PUTRAJAYA: The number of dengue cases rose by 214 cases or 9.6% to 2,435 cases in the 45th Epidemiological Week (EPI Week 45) from Nov 5 to Nov 11, compared to 2,221 cases the week before.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said in a statement on Monday (Nov 20), that there were two deaths due to denggue complications reported in the same period, adding that the culmulative cases recorded stood at 103,371 cases this year compared to 52,977 cases in the same period last year, an increase of 50,394 cases or 95%.

"A total of 80 deaths due to dengue complications were reported this year compared to 37 deaths for the same period the year before,” he said.

The number of hotspots also rose to 70 from 67 the week before, 45 in Selangor; seven each in Perak, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya; five in Sabah; two each in Negeri Sembilan and Penang, with one in Pahang and Sarawak respectively.

On the chikungunya surveillance, Dr Muhammad Radzi said three cases were recorded in EPI Week 45, bringing the culmulative total to 184 cases.

A total of 3,159 blood samples and 331 urine samples underwent zika screening as part of the surveillance on the disease, with all results being negative, he added. -Bernama