SPIKE IN DENGUE CASES 'ALARMING'
MORE DEATH: 48 FATALITIES SO FAR WITH MORE HOT SPOTS NATIONWIDE
PUTRAJAYA: The number of dengue cases reported weekly this year has risen to an alarming 900, more than double the average of 400 cases recorded for the whole of last year.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said from January to Sept 21, 21,453 cases were recorded nationwide compared with 15,950 cases for the same period last year.
"Of the total, 47 per cent of them were reported in Selangor. The fatality rate is also high with 45 deaths reported so far this year compared with 27 for the whole of last year," he told reporters after chairing the ministry's post-cabinet meeting here yesterday.
He said the number of hot spots also rose from less than 100 outbreak areas per week recorded early this year to more than 200 a week currently, adding that last week alone the number jumped to 226 areas in 30 districts nationwide.
"A total of 19 hot spots, 18 in the Petaling districts, Selangor and one in Batang Padang, Perak, recorded dengue outbreaks that lasted for more than a month."
Dr Subramaniam said the ministry had also conducted a massive inspection drive on premises for the Aedes larvae.
"We have checked 2.8 million premises and more than 40,000 of them were found positive (to be Aedes breeding grounds) and the owners have been issued with compound notices, amounting to RM4.8 million."
He said the public should strive to keep their premises clean to prevent them from becoming breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquitos.
"Relying solely on the ministry in the fight against dengue will not help in efforts to lower the number of cases," he said, adding that fogging conducted by the ministry was only a short-term measure.
On measures to use genetically modified (GM) mosquitos to fight dengue, Dr Subramaniam said it was still under study.
He said the move to release the GM mosquitos in Bentong was to see whether they would behave like natural mosquitos.
"The first phase result showed that the GM mosquitoes have similar behaviour characteristics with natural ones."
On the case involving two state health department inspectors in Negri Sembilan accused of pouring mosquito larvae in a water tank of a workshop to extort money from the owner, he said the investigation had been completed.
"The ministry's disciplinary committee will decide on the fate of the two officers.
"It will take time. Due to a few bad apples, they have cast a bad image on us."
- New Straits Times, 28/9/2013
