Re: Malaysia: 2010 dengue/chikungunya cases
Dengue situation worsens with 6 deaths nationwide
2010/01/28
Annie Freeda Cruez
KUALA LUMPUR: A ?dengue alert? has been declared by the Health Ministry following an alarming increase in dengue cases and deaths since October last year and the situation worsening in the first three weeks of this month.
Expressing worry, Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said all State Health directors have been alerted on the rise in cases and the need to further intensify their containment and prevention measures, both at state and district levels.
?I must stress that the ministry cannot fight the battle alone. It needs the full support and cooperation of the Rakyat. They must keep their surroundings clean and destroy all potential aedes breeding sites, be it inside or outsides their houses,? he added.
Between Jan 17 and 23, the number of dengue cases shot up to 1,065 cases with six deaths nationwide - reaching a dengue epidemic level. The previous week saw 997 cases with three deaths.
Between Jan 1 and Jan 23, Dr Ismail said, the ministry recorded 3,002 cases and 11 deaths as compared with 4,521 cases and 11 deaths during the same period last year.
Selangor topped the list with 1,370 cases and seven deaths), followed by Sarawak (645 cases and one death) Federal Territory/Putrajaya (246 cases and one death), Johor (166), Sabah (106), Penang (92), Perak (85), Negri Sembilan (74), Pahang (58 cases and one death), Kelantan (56), Terengganu (45), Malacca (30 cases and one death), Kedah (23), and three each in Perlis and Labuan.
Dr Ismail said nine states have been showing high incidences of dengue cases namely Kedah, Perlis, Malacca, Johor, Kelantan, Sabah, KL/Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan and Selangor.
?What is even more worrying is the number of deaths,? he said.
The six people who died of dengue between Jan 17 and 23 are:
* a 40-year-old technician from Jalan Kebun, Klang, Selangor from dengue shock syndrome,
* a 52-year-old woman general worker from Batu Berendam, Malacca, from dengue complications as she suffers from diabetes, hypertension and asthma
* a 57-year-old man from Sg. Buloh, Selangor, a diabetic from dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF)
* a 30-year-old assistant manager from Bandar Tun Razak, Pahang from DHF
* a 58-year-old woman from Semenyih, Selangor from DHF and
* a 38-year-old foreigner who works in Seri Kembangan, Selangor also from DHF.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the dengue situation in Malaysia was more serious than the Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic.
?We are recording more deaths due to dengue rather than from the H1N1 virus. Its truly worrying. Every Malaysian has to play a proactive role in containing the spread of the disease.
Commending Selangor State Health department?s senior public health specialist and head of State vector borne disease Dr B. Venugopal?s move to track down the source of the infection, he said, it was crucial just like any other communicable disease to track down from where the victims got bitten by the mosquito.
?The victims could have been bitten at home, workplace or wherever they went to within a period of one week. Its important to find out the source so that the site can be cleared of aedes breeding,? he said.
He added that he has directed all state and district health departments to - Wipe out the aedes breeding grounds within two weeks or they had failed in their task.
Liow said health officers should go on the ground and do their job besides creating awareness and educating the public on dengue, including how to prevent being infected.
Studies, he added, showed that many of the aedes breeding were at shoplots, flats, idle lands, schools and construction sites.
?Community participation in gotong-royong is important to fight the menace,? he said.
Treating dengue as any other communicable disease, Dr Venugopal said, Selangor embarked on identifying the source of infection in efforts to stop the spread of the disease since July last year.
?It may take one year or more before we see some positive results,? he added.
He said they were taking all measures to contain the dengue menace in the state.
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20100128171631/Article/index_html