PUTRAJAYA: Dengue cases have surged by 66% so far this year, with 65,979 infections recorded as of epidemiological week 35 compared with 39,616 during the same period last year, says Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said the number of deaths has also nearly doubled, with 62 fatalities recorded over the same period compared with 32 last year, an increase of 93.8%.
He said the Cabinet was briefed on the dengue situation during its meeting yesterday, including measures being taken to contain the sharp rise in cases.
Fahmi said the Housing and Local Government Ministry would organise large-scale gotong-royong programmes over the coming months, particularly in areas identified as red zones or experiencing dengue outbreaks.
He said the Cabinet was also briefed on the progress of the Wolbachia mosquito programme, including its implementation in Putrajaya.
The programme involves releasing Aedes mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia bacteria, which can suppress the dengue virus inside the mosquitoes and reduce their ability to transmit the disease.
However, Fahmi said the Cabinet was informed that fogging could also kill the Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes deployed as part of the dengue-control programme.
