ALOR GAJAH: Aedes mosquito bites Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem when he was leading a recent dengue prevention operation at a second-hand dealer store and lorry parking yard in the Melaka Tengah district.
The Melaka Health, Human Resources and Unity committee chairman shared with The Star how the little insect bit him on the forehead while he was checking for mosquito breeding grounds alongside enforcement officers from the Melaka Health Department.
"I managed to hit the mosquito, and when I showed the insect to the health officials, they confirmed it was an Aedes species.
"All of us were troubled by the presence of this 'tiny terror’, and it raised alarm among those present with me on that day, especially with the increasing dengue cases in the state," he said when met at his constituency's Japerun office in Kampung Bukit Bulat on Wednesday (Feb 19).
Ngwe has also declared an all-out war to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes in the state following a sharp increase in dengue cases, with 43 cases recorded since the beginning of the year up to Feb 16, including two deaths.
He said that the Kesidang constituency in the Melaka Tengah district has been identified as the state's top dengue hotspot.
“Fifty dengue cases were reported throughout last year, and the steep increase this year is something to be concerned about," he added.
During a recent preventive operation, Ngwe said authorities also discovered six abandoned water wells in the Tengkera area that were contributing to the breeding of Aedes.
He said guppy fish were released to these wells to tackle the dengue menace.
"Guppy fish eat the mosquito larvae, which thrive in stagnant water, to prevent them from developing into adult mosquitoes and transmitting the dengue virus," he said.
On the recent operation, Ngwe said apart from officers from the Melaka Health Department, it was also joined by the Melaka Historical City Council and community leaders.
"We inspected 22 premises and issued several notices of compound to the owner of the properties," he said.
Ngwe emphasised that the authorities will continue their efforts to curb the spread of dengue in the state, especially by targeting second-hand dealer yards.
"With persistent preventive measures and strong community involvement, Melaka aims to curb the rising dengue threat and protect its residents from the deadly virus," he added.
Earlier, Ngwe received 11 kits to be distributed to stakeholders under the state's government community paramedic initiative launched by Melaka Chief Minister in Dec, last year.
