On alert for dengue danger: Personnel from the Kedah Health Department inspecting potential breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes at Taman Sejati Indah. — Bernama
SUNGAI PETANI: Dengue cases in Kedah are rising at an alarming level, with a total of 1,550 cases reported in the 16th Epidemiological Week (ME16) this year.
In the same period last year, there were 1,301 cases recorded.
State housing, local government and health committee chairman Mjr (Rtd) Mansor Zakaria said the figure showed an increase of 19.1% or 249 cases.
“Under the ME16 this year, 136 dengue outbreaks were recorded, compared with 121 outbreaks last year, an increase of 12.4%.
“This situation requires immediate attention and action from the community and the authorities,” he told reporters while inspecting one of the dengue hotspots in Taman Sejati Indah yesterday, Bernama reported.
Mansor said a total of 95,307 premises have been inspected so far, of which 6,297 of them have been found with breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.
He said a total of 1,756 compound notices, worth RM848,900, were issued under the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act.
The state Health Department and the state government, introduced a self-inspection QR code of Aedes breeding grounds for residents in their own homes since January, he said.
Mansor also said for a start, the initiative involves residents in some at-risk localities and will be expanded statewide in future.
“The QR code provides a guide to places at risk of Aedes breeding and allows the destruction of breeding places to be recorded.
“The data on the use of this QR code will be monitored and evaluated by the department to cultivate behaviour to keep the house clean every week,” he said.
