Local authorities criticised for not doing enough to curb dengue

The Health Ministry today took the local authorities to task for not doing enough for the cleanliness campaign and to combat the dengue menace, despite the rising cases of dengue and fatalities from the disease.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam said the poor cleanliness campaign and enforcement by the local authorities in dengue-prone areas made it difficult for the ministry to curb the spread of dengue or prevent an outbreak.

"You could look for yourself at today's survey. We have carried out fogging for weeks, but there is no follow-up from beneath. So, there's no point of taking such a measure (fogging) when the basic things are not done.

"For example, the condition of the garbage bins, uncollected garbage, some bins empty but rubbish strewn all over (the ground). This is the cleanliness aspect which the local authorities fail to tackle.

"Until when should we conduct fogging if the surroundings are dirty and unkempt, with cars abandoned and become breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes?" he said to reporters after surveying the dengue hotspot of Kampung Sungai Kayu Ara, here, today.

Dr Subramaniam said the local authorities should review their cleansing work scope, including the work done by the appointed contractors as the cleanliness level was unsatisfactory.

"They should take the dengue epidemic seriously, the worst in the country's history. They should see who broke the law and take stern action.

"Whatever the issue, whether garbage collection, contractors or others, the local authorities and respective state governments should resolve it."

The minister said deaths due to dengue fever almost doubled from 84 cases in 2014 to 162 cases this year until June 29.

He said dengue cases rose from 42,715 to 57,181 over the same period, with Selangor recording the highest at 32,764 and 83 deaths until June 29.