Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam on Thursday expressed concern over the rising number of fatalities due to dengue fever with 29 deaths recorded from January till Feb 22.

Dr Subramaniam said the figure was a 263 percent increase or eight fatalities more when compared with the same period last year.

He said 16,383 dengue cases were reported from January to Feb 22, marking a 316 percent increase when compared with the same period last year.

"For the eighth week (Feb 16 - Feb 22) of the year, four deaths were recorded, involving two women aged 34 and 37 plus two men aged 21 and 35 respectively, due to dengue fever complications," he said in a statement.

Of the 580 localities identified as still active in 12 states, 354 localities were from Selangor followed by Negeri Sembilan with 66, Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya (48), Johor (30), Perak (25) and Kelantan (23).

Seven states registered an increase in the number of cases, namely Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak, Sabah, Melaka, Kelantan and Sarawak, he said.

"We intend to carry out gotong-royong after fogging but public cooperation is also important to help reduce the Aedes mosquito-breeding grounds. The public must cooperate with the authorities to destroy all possible Aedes breeding grounds," he said.