9.3 pct increase in dengue cases - Health DG

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of dengue fever cases in the 42nd Epidemiological Week (EW 42) has increased by 137 cases or 9.3 per cent to 1,614 cases compared with 1,477 recorded in the previous week.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said one death due to dengue fever complications was also reported.

"The cumulative number of dengue fever cases reported thus far is 48,109 cases compared with 21,308 cases for the same period last year, which is an increase of 26,801 cases (125.8 per cent)," he said in a statement today.

Dr Noor Hisham said 29 deaths due to dengue complications were reported compared with 16 deaths reported in the same period in 2021 - an increase of 13 deaths (81.3 per cent).

According to him, a total of 51 hotspot localities were reported on EW 42 compared with 53 hotspot localities in the previous week.

Dr Noor Hisham said 39 of the localities were in Selangor, Sabah (11), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (eight) and one hotspot each in Kedah and Melaka.

He added that rain and hot weather are the perfect breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes.

Therefore, he advises the public to check and destroy potential Aedes mosquito breeding places around the house for at least 10 minutes every week.

Regarding chikungunya, Dr Noor Hisham said surveillance recorded a total of seven cases in the EW 42 with three cases reported in Penang, two in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and one case each in Selangor and Melaka.

The cumulative number of chikungunya cases to date is 669 cases, he said.

-- BERNAMA