Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=417445

June 11, 2009 20:31 PM

Minister Irked By Doctors Who Failed To Detect Dengue Symptoms Early

KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 (Bernama) -- Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai Thursday expressed regret and anger over failure of doctors to detect or diagnose symptoms of dengue fever, early.

"I am certainly angry with doctors who failed to detect dengue fever early because the tropical disease has been in the country for a long time.

"By right, doctors who are trained here should be able to detect and diagnose the dengue fever symptoms early," he told reporters when referring to a statement yesterday by director general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican stating that the government had lost the fight against dengue.

Dr Ismail had blamed doctors in clinics and private hospitals for failing to detect and report dengue cases to the Health Ministry, early.

This year, 57 have died of the disease.

Though overall dengue cases had dropped, Liow expressed regret over the number of deaths and added that at least 50 percent of such deaths could have been avoided if they were detected early.

"This is a disease that can be controlled and prevented. So, there is no reason why it is still posing a serious danger to lives. Most of the cases that came to hospitals were late cases," he said.

Liow who earlier witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Guardian and University Kebangsaan Malaysia to provide Health Science Faculty students training at Guardian outlets, said the cabinet viewed the dengue menace very seriously and wanted the Health Ministry to take pro-active measures to overcome the disease.

He warned that private hospitals and clinics that failed to report dengue cases, faced stern action, including RM10,000 fine and two years' jail.

-- BERNAMA

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/20090616182208/Article/index_html

2009/06/16
Significant drop in number of dengue cases
Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Tues:

The number of dengue fever cases throughout the country dropped considerably last week (June 7 to 13) with 630 new cases reported compared with 719 the week before said a Health Ministry statement today.
In the statement, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said there were no deaths reported for the same period.

However, despite the overall drop in number of dengue cases, Pahang, Sabah, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Johor, registered an increase in the number of cases for the same period.

Liow in the statement added that the number of hotspots identified as of last week was 46 compared with 45 the previous week.

The number of Chikungunya cases also dropped from 103 to 80 for the same period.
The overall number of Chikungunya cases thus far was 2,687 compared with 4,271 for the same period last year, he said.

"There has been no deaths due to Chikungunya so far," he said. - BERNAMA

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/n...sifies_efforts_against_dengue_as_deaths_rise_


Malaysia intensifies efforts against dengue as deaths rise
Health News

Jun 16, 2009, 9:44 GMT

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia announced Tuesday it would intensify efforts to reduce dengue fever, following a increase in cases and deaths from the mosquito-borne disease.

From January to May 30 this year, a total of 21,707 cases of dengue and 57 deaths were recorded nationwide, said Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai.

The number of deaths has already exceeded more than half of last year's total death toll of 112. Last year saw 49,335 cases of dengue.

'This is a big figure, so we must not take the matter lightly. I am urging all quarters to be more committed to combating dengue,' Liow was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal.

He said health officers conducting random checks would impose an immediate fine if they found homes or construction sites with breeding grounds of the dengue virus-carrying Aedes mosquito.

'We have been giving advice. Too much advice already, but this seems to be ineffective,' Liow said.

'So, if the enforcement officers find that a house has Aedes mosquito breeding grounds like receptacles containing the larvae, they will fine the household on the spot. No more advice.'

A homeowner can be fined 100 ringgit (27 dollars) per Aedes larva, and a contractor, 500 ringgit (135 dollars) per larva, he said.

The symptoms of dengue include high fever, rashes, headaches, and muscle and joint pain. The disease can be fatal if treatment is not sought in the early stages of infection.

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/2584323/Article/index_html

2009/06/16
Dengue patients to go into special wards

KUALA LUMPUR: All suspected dengue cases will no longer be placed in general wards with other patients.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said from now on, all suspected dengue cases will be placed in special wards or bays managed by a dedicated group of trained doctors and nurses.

The patients would be monitored very closely during the first 24 hours from the onset of the fever because this was the time when their clinical condition could deteriorate.

"A dedicated team would pick up the early warning signs faster and institute appropriate treatment, such as fluid resuscitation or admitting the patient to the Intensive Care Unit," he said during the NSTLive session at Balai Berita yesterday.

He said although the dengue situation had not reached an alarming state, the concern was for the large number of cases and preventable deaths this year, especially in Selangor.

Between Jan 1 and June 13, this year, he said 23,056 dengue cases were reported nationwide with 57 deaths compared with 18,894 cases and 39 deaths during the same period last year.

He said 66 per cent of the deaths could have been prevented if patients had come in early for treatment .

He said that despite all that had been done by the ministry, including getting cooperation from the relevant ministries and relaying messages through the media, the public had not yet been motivated enough to take the action the ministry would like them to.

"Malaysians should know there is no specific treatment for dengue fever and the only way to get rid of the problem is to get rid of the mosquitoes and breeding sites."

The ministry's "10 minutes a week" campaign, for example, is aimed at getting everyone to inspect their homes once a week for at least 10 minutes, to get rid of breeding sites inside and outside the house.

Dr Ismail attributed the increase in dengue cases to global warming because it increased the activity of the vector mosquito.

He also said the health ministry's enforcement team would go hard on those who breed mosquitoes instead of letting them off with a warning.

"We have given enough warning to flouters of the law and we will go hard on them. We just hope there is no interference from anybody when we bring errant people to book."

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=422864

July 03, 2009 20:39 PM

Dengue Fever Cases Up, Chikungunya Down

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama)-- The level of involvement of communities in 'gotong-royong' (self-help) activities for combating and controlling dengue fever is still low as only 28 activities were held throughout the country compared to the 69 called for the first 25 weeks of the year.

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Marican said in the period of June 21-27 vector control activity could also not be implemented wholly as only 320,845 houses were fogged compared to the 682,648 houses identified.

Besides that 731 compound notices amounting to RM36,870 and 256 clean-up notices were issued in the week to house dwellers found to be breeding the Aedes mosquito.

In the same period, there were 749 dengue fever cases with one death each in Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan compared to 738 cases the week before, he said in a statement here Friday.

"The five states that showed sharp rise in dengue cases were Perlis (57 per cent), Melaka (36 per cent), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (34 per cent), Penang (30 per cent) and Kedah (15 per cent)," he said.

According to him, the total number of dengue cases were 24,534 cases with 62 deaths compared to 20,721 cases with 45 deaths in the same period last year.

Dr Mohd Ismail said the Chikungunya epidemic however registered a drop in that period with 61 cases compared to 88 cases the previous week.

However, he said five states showed a rise in cases compared to the previous week and they were Penang (five cases), Johor (two) and one each in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Negeri Sembilan.

The total number of Chikungunya cases till now was 2,836 cases compared to 4,271 the year before.

He said the Ministry of Health found that till June 27 there were 33 "hot areas" and only 11 localities were free of "hot areas" compared to 39 localities the previous week with 27 of them in Selangor, five in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and one in Johor.

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2599261/Article/index_html

2009/07/03
Student, housewife die of dengue

KUALA LUMPUR: A 19-year-old student and a 47-year-old housewife are the latest to succumb to dengue.

The student who sought treatment at a government health clinic situated 7km from his Cheras house was given a Dengue Monitoring Card upon being diagnosed with dengue and sent home with medication and told to return the following day.

"The boy came back and the doctor who found his condition stable, told him to continue the medication but return again the next day but he did not turn up," said Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican.

On June 21, he said, the boy, who was vomiting and having high fever, went to the Kajang Hospital where he was warded. He died the following day.

Dr Ismail said a visit to his house showed aedes breeding in flower vases, polysterene plates and empty paint containers.
"The area had six cases of dengue since June 4. The residents were very uncooperative in cleaning up their premises."

Dr Ismail said the housewife was from a kampung in Mukim Gunong, Kelantan, where 22 dengue cases had been reported in the last 22 weeks. The kampung had been declared a "dengue outbreak" area.

The woman, a diabetic, sought treatment at a private clinic, about 6km, from her house on June 6. Three days later she went back to the same clinic when her fever did not subside and was diagnosed with dengue fever.

She was referred to the Gunong health clinic before being sent to Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital. She died six hours later.

Health authorities who visited the kampung found the place breeding with aedes mosquitoes in used tyres and broken plates.

"The kampung has been having a dengue outbreak since March 12," said Dr Ismail, adding that a complete clean-up operation and fogging was carried to destroy all aedes breeding grounds.

He said within a week (June 21-27), 749 cases with two deaths were reported, bringing the number of cases since Jan 1 to June 27 to 24,543 cases with 62 deaths.

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=424005

July 08, 2009 23:27 PM

Drop In Dengue And Chikugunya Cases Nationwide

KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 (Bernama) -- Dengue cases on the whole decreased nationwide, with 691 cases reported to the Health Ministry in the 26th week from June 28 to July 4.

This indicates an eight per cent drop from the previous week with 749 cases recorded.

The director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said in a statement Wednesday that four states experienced an increase in cases -- Terengganu with 108 per cent, Kelantan (73 per cent), Sabah (43 per cent) and Sarawak (27 per cent).

The number of dengue cases recorded so far this year is 25,234, compared with 21,704 cases during the same period last year.

No deaths have been recorded this week, but two deaths were recorded last week.

"There have been 62 deaths so far this year, which is a 32 per cent increase over the same period in 2008 with 47 cases," Dr Mohd Ismail said.

He said three states recorded the highest number of deaths this year, namely Selangor with 43 deaths, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with seven deaths each, and Negeri Sembilan, five.

On chikungunya, Dr Mohd Ismail said there had been a decrease of 39 per cent from 61 cases the previous week to 37.

He said all states experienced less cases except for Terengganu, Sabah and Kedah which had an increase of one case each.

"Even with lesser dengue and chikugunya cases this week, the public is reminded to always carry out preventive measures and spend 10 minutes each day to make sure their houses are not breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes," he said.



-- BERNAM

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=428931

July 30, 2009 00:33 AM

Dengue Claims Two Lives

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- A 77-year-old man from Sipitang, Sabah and a 45-year-old female teacher from Ampang, Selangor were reported to have died of dengue in Week 29 of this year (week ending July 25).

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said both of them suffered haemorrhagic dengue fever and dengue shock syndrome and died on July 17.

A probe into their living surroundings showed dengue breeding to be way above the normal level, he said in a statement here Wednesday.

However, Dr Mohd Ismail said, the overall number of dengue cases recorded a drop with 528 cases reported in Week 29 compared to 615 cases in Week 28 with only two states - Sabah and Selangor - recording an increase in cases.

According to him, the cumulative cases this year totalled 26,974 with 66 deaths as compared to 24,726 cases with 61 deaths for the corresponding period last year.

As for chikungunya, Dr Mohd Ismail said 38 cases were reported in Week 29, less once case compared to Week 28.

"Only Kelantan showed an increase in cases, two cases in Week 28 but eight in Week 29. No deaths due the disease have been reported thus far," he added.

-- BERNAMA

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20090807175505/Article/index_html

Dengue cases up, Chikungunya down

2009/08/07

KUALA LUMPUR, Fri: Dengue cases in the country continue to rise, with 568 cases reported last week (July 26-Aug 1), from 528 previously, said Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.

However, no death was reported.

"There was no death reported during the 30th week as compared with two deaths reported in Selangor and Sabah in the previous week," he said in a statement here today.

During the same period, he said the number of dengue "hot spots" also declined from 33 to 31. There are 25 "hot spots" in Selangor; five in Kuala Lumpur; and one in Johor.

Selangor still recorded the highest number of dengue cases, so far this year, with 13,776 and 44 deaths, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 2,611 cases and seven deaths; and Perak with 2,229 and one death, he said.


He said Chikungunya cases which spread through Aedes mosquito bites, however, had dropped from 38 to 35 during the same period. -- BERNAMA

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/20090819211036/Article/index_html

More dengue cases in five states last week

2009/08/19

KUALA LUMPUR, Wed: Five states recorded an increase in the number of dengue cases in the week ending Aug 15 compared with the previous week, although the total number of cases recorded nationwide dropped by two to 583 for the week, Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said today.

Terengganu had 22 cases compared with 10, Perlis had one case compared with none, Sarawak had 53 cases compared with 31, Perak had 52 cases compared with 35 and Kedah had 11 cases compared with nine, he said in a statement.

Dr Mohd Ismail said 67 deaths were recorded this year up to Aug 15, with the number of cumulative cases at 28,710 compared with 64 deaths and 27,900 cumulative cases during the corresponding period last year.

He also said that 18 cases of Chikungunya were reported nationwide in the week ending Aug 15, a drop of nine cases compared with the previous week.


However, three states -- Perlis, Perak and Kelantan -- registered a rise in the number of cases last week, he added. -- BERNAMA

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=439220

September 09, 2009 17:03 PM

Drop In Dengue Fever Cases: Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- While the dengue fever has claimed a life, the number of cases has dropped to 410 from 477, between Aug 30 and Sept 5, according to the health ministry.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, together with Perlis, Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Negeri Sembilan recorded the highest breeding of the aedes mosquito.

As for Chikungunya, there was no fatality reported, with the number of cases dropping from 33 to 17, the week before.

-- BERNAMA

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20090912-167465.html

Dengue claims 69 lives in Malaysia
Sat, Sep 12, 2009
The New Straits Times


KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Another dengue death was recorded on Aug 25, bringing the death toll for the year to 69.

The latest victim is a 45-year old woman, a factory operator who lived in Taman Aman, Parit Bakar in Muar, Johor.

Investigations revealed that there were three dengue deaths in her housing estate last year.

Between Aug 30 and Sept 5, the nation also recorded another 410 new dengue cases which brings the number of Malaysians infected with the disease to 30,110 till last Saturday..

During the same period last year (Jan 1-Sept 5) there were 30,956 cases and 71 deaths.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said 22 dengue hot spots were identified last week with many of the spots located in Selangor, Johor, Perak, Sarawak and here.

THE NEW STRAITS TIMES

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=441135

September 17, 2009 17:38 PM

Increase In Dengue And Chikungunya Cases

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- A total of 478 cases of dengue fever were recorded by the Health Ministry from Sept 6 to 12, an increase of 68 cases or 17 per cent from the previous week which recorded 410 cases.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Marican, in a statement here said, nine states recorded an increase in the number of dengue cases for the week from Sept 6 to 12.

They are Pahang (83 per cent), Sarawak (67 per cent), Sabah (67 per cent), Kedah (43 per cent), Terengganu (38 per cent), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (33 per cent), Melaka (11 per cent), Selangor (six per cent) and Penang (four per cent).

No death due to dengue was reported during the week, he added.

The total of accumulated dengue cases so far this year, until Sept 12, is 30,588 cases, including 69 deaths, compared with 31,806 cases in the corresponding period last year.

Dr Mohd Ismail said 24 hot spot localities had been reported, comprising 15 in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur (four), Johor (four) and one in Perak.

On Chikugunya, he said, a total of 18 cases were reported this week, from 16 in the previous week.

"Generally, there was a drop in the number of cases in all states, except Sarawak and Pahang, he added.

He advised those going back to their home towns for Hari raya to ensure that they did not leave containers which could be breeding grounds for mosquitoes at home.

-- BERNAMA

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=442371

September 25, 2009 17:23 PM

Increase In Dengue Cases With One Death

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- A woman died of dengue in Miri on Sept 6, bringing the death toll to 70 so far this year, said Health Director-General Tan Sri Mohd Ismail Merican.

He said the 29-year-old woman succumbed to dengue shock syndrome at the Miri Hospital.

Dengue cases nationwide increased by 19 to 497 cases last week compared to the previous week, he said in a statement on Friday.

He said five states recorded an increase in dengue cases with Selangor topping the list with the figure rose by 34 to 222 cases.

Sarawak was a distant second with the figure rose by 13 to 68 cases (including one death) followed by Perak (33 cases, rose by 11), Johor (36 cases, rose by 10), and Negeri Sembilan (13 cases, rose by four).

Mohd Ismail said the cumulative dengue cases until the 37th week this year was 30,981 cases with 70 deaths compared with 32,643 cases and 74 deaths in the corresponding period last year.

He advised the public to destroy aedes breeding places in their houses and compounds as continuous heavy downpour of late could provide favourable breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

On chikungunya, he said the cases dropped by nine to nine cases last week compared to the previous week.

-- BERNAMA

 

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Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=445504

October 08, 2009 20:44 PM

No H1N1 Deaths In Three Weeks

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- No influenza A (H1N1) deaths have been reported for three weeks running, Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said.

He said 228 patients with Influenza Like Illness (ILI) were admitted to hospital for treatment while 183 others were discharged Thursday.

The ILI patients under treatment nationwide stood at 814 with 34 confirmed H1N1 cases.

"Eleven patients are being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) while two were discharged today. The death casualty remains at 77," he said in a statement today.

On dengue fever, Dr Ismail said the cases rose from 247 to 585 from Sept 27-Oct 3 with big increases recorded in five states - Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Johor and Terengganu.

No deaths were reported.


There were 32,008 cases registered compared to 34,522 cases over the corresponding period last year. The death casualty so far stood at 71, lower than the 75 recorded for the whole of last year.

"Of the 585 dengue cases reported last week, nine were in hot areas. It is disappointing that 47 percent of the localities has high aedes breeding rate."

On Chikungunya cases, Dr Ismail said there were 47 cases reported this week compared to 26 cases last week. No deaths were reported.

Sarawak recorded a big jump, contributing 42 of the cases nationwide last week. No deaths were reported.

--BERNAMA

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=447380

October 15, 2009 23:21 PM

Dengue Cases Drop

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- The number of dengue cases in the Oct 4-10 period dropped to 552 cases from 585 cases the previous week, said Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican.

He said, however, seven states had recorded an increase in dengue fever led by Kelantan by 22 per cent and followed by Kedah (20 per cent), Johor (18 per cent), Sabah (14 per cent), Melaka (10 per cent), Terengganu (seven per cent) and Perak (six per cent).

One death was reported on Sept 19, bringing the dengue fever death toll this year to 72 cases, he said in a statement on Thursday.

He said the 52-year-old woman, who was from Kuala Kangsar, Perak died of dengue shock syndrome after being warded for three days at a private hospital in Ipoh.

Dr Mohd Ismail said the number of dengue cases rose to 32,560 cases so far this year cases compared to 35,227 cases in the corresponding period last year.

On Chikungunya, he said the figure increased by 73 to 231 cases last week.

-- BERNAMA

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=448860

October 22, 2009 19:09 PM

Dengue On The Rise, Chikungunya Cases Drop

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- The number of dengue cases reported nationwide increased by two per cent to 563 cases last week from 552 reported previously.

However, there was no death recorded during the Oct 11-17 period.

Director-general of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said six states which recorded a significant increase were Perak with 59 per cent, Kelantan (46), Kuala Lumpur/Putrajaya (33), Pahang (33), Sabah (29) and Penang (24).

"Nevertheless, the total number of dengue cases reported nationwide this year dropped by nine per cent to 33,123 cases with 72 deaths, from 36,234 cases and 80 deaths recorded in the corresponding period last year," he said in a statement here on Thursday.

He said 15 dengue hot spots had also been identified, with 11 in Selangor, two in Kuala Lumpur and one each in Johor and Terengganu.

Dr Mohd Ismail said the level of involvement of communities in 'gotong-royong' activities was poor even in the dengue-prone areas.

"Only 17 of such activities were implemented throughout last week, despite 58 that were initially planned," he said.

Meanwhile, he said the number of Chikungunya cases reported last week had showed a decrease to 77 cases from 231 recorded previously.

-- BERNAMA

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/22/parliament/4954449&sec=parliament

Thursday October 22, 2009
No proof that 100Plus cures dengue
Reports by LEE YUK PENG, ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN, LOH FOON FONG, YENG AI CHUN and LESTER KONG

THERE is no scientific proof to show that 100Plus drink is able to cure dengue fever, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin told the House.

She said while the drink gives individuals energy, there was no scientific analysis that indicated it could heal those suffering from the illness.

There was also no proof that the drink could be detrimental to those who drank it believing that it would help their condition, she added.

?If there are any doubts about the disease, the public can call the ministry for verification,? she said when replying to Datuk Ibrahim Ali (Independent - Pasir Mas).

Ibrahim had asked whether drinking the energy drink could help to cure dengue fever as there were those who believed it could and if not, whether it could be detrimental to patients.

In replying to Karpal Singh (DAP - Bukit Gelugor) who asked if dengue was widespread in Malaysia and what steps the Government was taking to fight it, Rosnah said the disease was endemic and the number of infections was increasing not only in Malaysia but globally.

This was a result of climate change and poor hygiene level.

There were 72 deaths reported this year until Oct 17, compared with 80 in the same period last year, she said.

The number of cases until Oct 17 was 33,123 compared to 36,234 during the same period last year.

Rosnah said the number of cases in nine states had reduced except for Selangor, Penang, Sarawak, Perlis and Malacca.

The numbers could be reduced further if all parties got involved and were committed in fighting the disease, she said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=452875

November 05, 2009 21:12 PM

Worker From Sarawak Latest Dengue Victim

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- A 42-year-old general worker from Sarawak became the latest victim to have succumbed to the dengue, bringing the death toll from the disease to 74 this year.

Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said the victim, from Serian, was diagnosed with the disease on Oct 15 and died on Oct 28.

He said 673 cases were reported between Oct 25 and 31, an increase compared to 563 cases with one death in the previous week.

"The increase could be due to the current rainy season," he said in a statement.

There are a total of 33,357 dengue cases so far this year with 74 deaths compared to 38,070 cases and 84 deaths during the same period last year.

Dr Mohd Ismail said incidence of Chikungunya showed a decline from 197 cases last week to 148 cases this week.

-- BERNAMA

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Malaysia: Dengue Fever/Chikungunya cases

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/11/9/nation/20091109142854&sec=nation

Published: Monday November 9, 2009 MYT 2:25:00 PM
Govt issues dengue alert
By SIM LEOI LEOI

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry has sounded an alert over the recent rise of dengue cases in the country due the onset of rains brought on by the northeast monsoon.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said there was an increase of 100 dengue cases for the week ending Oct 31, compared with the previous week.

?There were 673 cases reported to the ministry with one death recorded in that week. Previously, there were 563 cases with one death reported.

?The rise in cases could be due to the rainy season currently faced by the country. Nine states showed an increase of between 13% and 150% in the number of cases, with Kelantan having recorded the biggest jump.

?The rest are Sarawak, Pahang, Perlis, Negri Sembilan, Sabah, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur and Federal Territory, and Kedah,? he said in a statement here.

The latest death was a 42-year-old general worker from Serian, Sarawak, who fell ill on Oct 15 but only sought treatment at a private hospital in Kuching four days later.

The man was referred to a public hospital in Kuching but died on Oct 22 following complications from haemorrhagic dengue fever, said Dr Ismail, adding that no preventive measures had been carried out at the locality where he had contracted the disease.

Dr Ismail said five more hot spots had been detected, bringing the number of localities nationwide currently being monitored by the ministry to 16.

?It?s disappointing that half of these hotspots still have a high breeding rate of Aedes larvae and mosquitoes. This makes it difficult for us to prevent further infection,? he said.

Dr Ismail said only 32% of prevention activities such as gotong-royong (communal efforts) were carried out for that week.

?There were nine hotspots within Selangor which have yet to carry gotong-royong since the outbreak was reported in their areas,? he said.