JOHOR BARU: The Johor Health Department will take a more aggressive approach in tackling the rising number of dengue cases in the state, including stepping up fogging operations and inspections at dengue hotspots.
State health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the department would intensify fogging, particularly in areas identified as dengue hotspots, while increasing inspections at premises, including residential properties, to identify potential Aedes mosquito breeding grounds.
He said local councils would also be roped in to carry out more gotong-royong activities to ensure residential areas and their surroundings are kept clean.
“Such measures are necessary as Johor continues to record a worrying increase in dengue cases, with 8,639 cases recorded in the first 32 weeks of this year.
“The figure represents an increase of more than 108% compared with the 4,140 cases recorded during the same period last year,” he said here yesterday.
The Yong Peng assemblyman added that Johor Baru and Kulai are among the areas recording worrying trends in dengue cases.
“We need to take more aggressive measures to control the increase in dengue cases, especially in hotspot areas,” he said.
Ling also urged people to spend at least 10 minutes cleaning their homes and surrounding areas to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.
He said a simple 10-minute check and clean-up could help protect families and the wider community from dengue fever.
“I urge everyone to spend at least 10 minutes cleaning their homes and surroundings. This can help prevent Aedes mosquitoes from breeding and protect our families and community from dengue,” he added.
He also called on Johoreans to cooperate fully with the Health Department and local authorities by keeping their surroundings clean and eliminating any containers or areas that could collect stagnant water.
Ling said the public should not rely solely on fogging operations, as eliminating mosquito breeding grounds remains a vital part of preventing dengue transmission.
He also advised those experiencing early symptoms such as high fever to seek medical attention and undergo screening.
Ling said early detection, prompt treatment and joint efforts between authorities and the public are crucial in bringing down dengue cases in the state.
