Solar mosquito traps to be installed at PPRs, recreational areas

The Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry will make it mandatory to install solar mosquito traps at all new People's Housing Programme (PPR) projects and projects to upgrade recreational areas that come under the jurisdiction of the ministry.

Its Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar said the plan which would be implemented soon was among the measures taken by the ministry to reduce dengue fever cases and to prevent the spread of the Zika virus in the country.

"It (the solar mosquito trap) is widely used abroad, especially in Hong Kong. It can run without electricity by using solar energy and can be placed on fields and housing areas," he told a press conference after opening Kelana the Jaya UMNO division delegates meeting here Sunday.

He said the number of the solar mosquito traps that would be installed would depend on the size of an area.

On Thursday, Malaysia recorded its first case of Zika virus infection when a 58-year-old woman from Klang tested positive for the disease after returning from Singapore on Aug 21.

Yesterday, the Health Minister confirmed the first locally transmitted Zika virus infection case involving a 61-year-old man from Likas. However, the man died from heart-related complications.