MOH expects second wave of dengue cases

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has forecast a second wave of dengue cases from June until September, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said that although there had been a downtrend in the number of dengue cases since early this year, there has been an upward trend since six weeks ago, with an average increase of eight per cent a week.

From January until June this year, there have been 84 dengue deaths compared to 83 cases last year.

“Based on initial investigations on the 84 dengue deaths this year, 11 per cent was due to late in seeking treatment, which is three days after showing symptoms,” he said at the media conference on the development of COVID-19 today.

Dr Noor Hisham said that from January to June 6, 48,584 dengue cases were reported compared to 54,524 cases during the same period last year, which is an 11 per cent decrease.

Commenting further, Dr Noor Hisham said that following the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), which will begin on Wednesday (June 10), more economic sectors and businesses would reopen and social, education and religious activities would resume.

“It’s possible that premises which were closed and had no movement of people could be breeding grounds for mosquitoes, therefore the public are advised to maintain hygiene in their respective areas.

“Especially in places that collect water and other potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Efforts to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes and dengue fever are our responsibilities, just like how we work together to break the COVID-19 infection,” he said.

At the same time, he said, preventive measures to curb the spread of dengue fever should be adopted in line with the new normal.

He clarified that premise owners should clean the inside and outside of their premises weekly; any premises or rooms that have not been used for some time should be sprayed with aerosol before reopening, apart from conducting larviciding (larvae termination).