50.7 per cent drop in dengue cases so far this year — Health director
KUCHING: Sarawak has registered a 50.7 per cent decline in terms of cumulative cases of dengue fever between Jan 1 and May 27 this year compared with the same period last year.
State Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim said a total of 578 dengue cases were reported in the fi rst five months of this year compared to 1,172 cases over the corresponding period last year.
“This shows a good sign where the cases were reduced by 50.7 per cent ( 594 cases) compared to the same period in 2016,” she told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Dr Jamilah pointed out that six districts registered an increase in dengue cases exceeding ten cases between Jan 1 to May 27 this year compared to the same period last year, namely Sarikei ( 31 cases), Limbang ( 25 cases), Saratok (13 cases), Daro (13 cases), Selangau (10 cases) dan Betong (10 cases).
“The total cumulative deaths due to dengue fever between Jan 1 and May 27 this year were three deaths compared to four deaths in the same period last year, which showed a reduction of 25 per cent or one death.”
Dr Jamilah said despite the reduction in the number of dengue cases reported, people should not rest on their laurels by not looking after their personal safety or not maintaining cleanliness of their surroundings.
“The widespread publ ic movement during the school hol iday and Gawai fest ive season can cause the dengue fever infection to spread faster if there are Aedes mosquitoes in their surroundings.”
Therefore, in conjunction with the Gawai Dayak celebration today, Dr Jamilah advised members of the community to conduct prevention activities such as ensuring that there as no containers or places that have the potential to be breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes within their residences or surroundings, especially when they return to their respective villages.
She also advised people to use aerosol sprays to kill mosquitoes when they are at home besides applying mosquito repellent on parts of the body that are exposed to mosquito bites, especially during the mosquitoes’ active period between 5am and 7am as well as 5pm and 7pm.