RM27 million allocation to eradicate dengue

The Cabinet has approved an additional allocation of RM27 million to intensify the fight against dengue fever for two months, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.

"It will enable us to increase staff, use the private sector to assist in fogging operations, to provide assistance to the local authorities and the Department of Health at state level.

"I hope in this two months the number of dengue cases will go down," he told reporters before chairing a post-cabinet meeting, here yesterday.

He said the ministry would also provide 100,000 dengue diagnostic kits to public and private health clinics in the Klang Valley which are identified as hotspots for dengue in the country.

However, the kit is only available to private clinics that wished to conduct early dengue detection tests.

"It is free as no fee will be charged for the test. Those found to be charging to make a profit will be blacklisted," he said.

Ministry records show that from January to August 9, a total of 59,790 cases were reported nationwide, resulting in 123 deaths.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was chairing the meeting of the National Committee on Dengue, described the 'Ops Mega', introduced to combat dengue and carried out since July 14 last year, had managed to reduce dengue hotspots in Selangor from 92 areas to 86 areas.