Kuala Lumpur may see twofold increase in dengue cases

The Kuala Lumpur Health Department has issued a reminder to the public that it only takes a drop, the size of a 20 sen coin or a teaspoon of stagnant water for an Aedes mosquito to breed.

Its Vector Borne Disease Control Unit chief Dr Zainal Abidin Abu Bakar said one aedes mosquito could lay between 80 and 100 eggs at one time.

"The eggs can sustain in a dry environment for up to six months. With a little bit of water they will hatch into larvae and pupae (within 24 to 48 hours)," he told Bernama here.

He warned city dwellers that dengue could potentially increase twofold in the next three months, from July till September, considering the rainy and damp weather which is conducive for the breeding of aedes mosquitos.

"This is based on the previous cyclical pattern or trend of dengue cases. From January to June 2014, the number of cases in Kuala Lumpur was 3,803 and jumped to 7,185 between July and September.

"Similarly in 2013, the number of cases between January and June was 1,065 and increased to 2,570 between July and September," he disclosed, adding that this year, 3,492 cases had been recorded as of June 25.

Dr Zainal Abidin said the department had been carrying out extensive fogging operations and 'find and destroy' activities at more than 2,600 potential aedes breeding grounds particularly construction sites around the city since January.

"From January till June 20, the department has inspected more than 125 sites and 80 were positive breeding grounds for aedes mosquitos.

"Construction sites that are found to be positive aedes breeding grounds will be advised to close for two weeks for cleaning up and to destroy the breeding grounds," he said.

Kuala Lumpur recorded 18 deaths from dengue as of June 25, which is three times the number in the same period last year.

Statistics from the Health Ministry's national dengue operations room (Preparedness and Response Centre) website, 'i-Dengue' for Jan 4 till June 24 showed Selangor to have the most cases with 31,736.

Perak followed suit with 5,630, Johor (4,083), Kuala Lumpur (3,492), Penang (2,662), Sabah (1,392), Pahang (1,217) and Sarawak (1,187).

Other states recorded fewer than 1,000 cases with Negeri Sembilan having 958; Melaka, 929; Kelantan, 767; Terengganu, 509; Kedah, 461; Perlis, 127; Putrajaya, 90; and Labuan, 2.

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), health and environment director Dr Norhayati Abdullah said her department had stepped up operations to prevent further increase of the disease.

She said a special dengue prevention team had carried out fogging activities at more than 30 dengue prone sites and deposited larvicide granules at strategic locations in the 11 parliamentary constituencies here.

"Hopefully, the number of cases here this year will decrease after all the initiatives," she said.

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