Significant drop in dengue cases nationwide recorded in first quarter

SARIKEI: The number of dengue cases in the country has seen a significant decrease in the first quarter of this year compared to the corresponding period last year.

State Health Department chief senior assistant director for the vector-borne disease section, Dr Ooi Choo Huck said that as of the 14th week of this year (April 8), a total of 25,503 dengue cases were recorded nationwide.

It marked a decrease of 35 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2016 which recorded a total of 39,221 cases, he said.

The death toll due to the disease in the first 14 weeks of this year had also seen a decrease of 28 cases or 31.1 per cent, he said, adding that last year recorded 90 deaths compared to 62 this year.

Dr Ooi said this during the launch of the state-level ‘Program Gotong-Royong Mega Bersepadu Perangi Aedes’ at Taman Susur Jambu Basketball Stadium near here recently.

He also disclosed that there were 645 dengue epidemic localities still active during the 14th week nationwide.

There were also 110 hotspot localities identified in seven states excluding Sarawak.

Though there was no hotspot in the state, it was not a reason to be complacent as Sarawak is not totally free from the menace, he warned.

According to him, as of April this year or the 16th Epi Week, a total of 490 dengue cases involving two deaths, one hotspot locality and 29 epidemic localities were recorded in the state.

This includes 69 cases recorded in Sarikei Division — Sarikei District with 42, Meradong (14), Pakan (8) and Julau (5).

In order to curb the menace effectively, the root of the problem must be addressed which not only meant killing aedes mosquitoes but also destruction of their breeding ground, Ooi emphasised, adding that was where the role of the public was badly needed.

“If the people care to play their part to get rid of any potential breeding place for a ed es mosquito es, there would be no room for dengue epidemics to occur,” he said.

Sarikei Resident Mohd Junaidi Mohidin who was invited to launch the event called for an all out effort to curb dengue.

“Like any other dreaded disease, the fight against dengue demanded a positive attitude. Throwing garbage indiscriminately provides potential breeding grounds for the aedes mosquitoes,” he said.