Death due to dengue increases by 100 per cent

The total number of deaths due to dengue fever in the first six months of the year increased 100 per cent over that of last year, said director-general of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said from January until June 6 this year, 144 deaths were recorded compared to 72 cases in the same period last year.

"Complications like liver and kidney failures as well as 'shock syndrome' is more likely to occur in patients infected with dengue fever," he said in a statement here today.

In another development, Dr Noor Hisham said dengue fever cases nationwide for the 22nd week (May 31 to June 6) had increased eight per cent over the week before it.

He said 2,201 cases were reported in the 22nd week, compared with 2,042 cases in the week before.

Dr Noor Hisham said seven states which showed an increase in the number of cases were Selangor with 114 cases; Melaka (46 cases); Pahang (27 cases); Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (24 cases); Negeri Sembilan (seven cases); Kedah (five cases); and Johor (five cases).

He added that the total number of localities or Dengue hotspots also increased by nine per cent in the 22nd week, with 793 places, compared to 725 places the week before.

Meanwhile, 131 building sites in Selangor were inspected by the Health Ministry in an operation carried out in collaboration with local authorities and other agencies from Feb 10 to June 7, he said.

He said through the inspections, 113 sites were found to be breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, of which 94 were told to cease operations.