Dengue: Three more death in four days - Deputy DG Health

Three more deaths due to dengue were reported in a period of four days since Sunday, bringing the dengue death toll this year to 104.

Health Ministry Deputy Director-General Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said the number of deaths caused by dengue increased by 76.3 percent as compared to the same period last year which only registered 59 cases (January until April 2).

"A total 890 new dengue cases were reported for the four-day period since Sunday, making the total dengue cases or this year until Thursday to rise to 33,425 cases as compared to 24,510 cases during the same period last year," he told reporters after the launching of the Dengue Free Malaysia Movement (DFMM), Saturday.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor is the patron of the movement initiated by the Country Heights Holding Berhad.

Dr Lokman Hakim said dengue cases in Malaysia were seasonal and cyclical, with the number of cases going up and down along the year.

Meanwhile, the Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in his speech at the launching of the movement said people must be in unison change their mindset and muster efforts to fight the deadly aedes mosquito.

"My father Tuanku Sultan (Selangor) and I would like to urge Malaysians to start doing something against this enemy and practice first line of defence to eliminate all possible breeding grounds," and killed the adult mosquitoes, he said.

Also present at the launching ceremony were Minister in Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup and Country Heights founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew.