JOHOR BARU: Johor has recorded nine dengue-related deaths so far this year as the state grapples with a sharp 97.3% surge in cases compared with the same period last year, says Ling Tian Soon.
The state health and environment committee chairman said Johor recorded 7,965 cumulative dengue cases as of the 31st epidemiological week ending Aug 8, almost double the 4,037 cases recorded during the corresponding period last year.
“Johor Baru and Kulai accounted for about 91% of the dengue cases in the state, largely due to their dense populations and concentration of housing estates and flats.
“The situation is particularly concerning because the dominant dengue strain circulating now is associated with more severe infections and symptoms,” he said in an interview.
He said the high number of infections was also placing additional pressure on the public healthcare system.
In response to the situation, Ling said he chaired a special state dengue committee meeting last week, during which the Johor government approved an allocation of RM116,000 to the Health Department to support fogging operations.
More than 90 large-scale gotong-royong programmes have also been planned, particularly in Johor Baru and Kulai, he said, adding that this was to raise awareness and encourage residents to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
“The worsening dengue situation requires urgent attention from the public as preventing the disease is a shared responsibility between the authorities and residents.
“We want the people to make this a routine habit as it only takes about 10 minutes to inspect your home and surroundings to ensure there is no stagnant water in flower pots, containers, drains or puddles where mosquitoes can breed.
Ling said the current weather pattern of hot and dry conditions combined with rainfall created ideal conditions for Aedes mosquitoes to reproduce, as they required only a small amount of standing water to breed.
He urged those experiencing symptoms such as fever and fatigue to seek medical treatment immediately and request a dengue test from their doctor.
“Early detection and treatment can help prevent complications and reduce the risk of severe dengue.”
The latest figures mark a sharp deterioration from earlier in the year, when The Star reported in June that Johor had recorded a weekly high of 268 dengue cases, with Johor Baru accounting for 81% of infections.
The Star also highlighted the emergence of DENV-3 as the dominant circulating serotype, with experts warning that a major shift could increase the risk of severe disease in some patients.
