Dengue-Free program for Sabah too

KUALA LUMPUR: The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (MOSTI) will expand its phase two implementation of the Dengue-Free Community (KBD) programme to include five states soon in an effort to control the spread of dengue.

The pilot programme involving Perak, Pahang, Sabah, Malacca and Negeri Sembilan will focus on areas with a high number of recorded cases of dengue.

Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said the programme's implementation was extended following the encouraging success of its first phase which recorded a 49 percent drop in dengue cases since it started in June until December last year.

"The second phase will see further improvements in terms of research and data collection on dengue cases, thereby allowing immediate an d effective control, in addition to extensive local community involvement," he told reporters after handing out the Complete Dengue Protection Home Kits to community representatives, here, yesterday.

As such, Madius said, the ministry would enhance cooperation with the Health Ministry, Medical Research Institute and other relevant ministries in tackling dengue and other vector diseases, in particular the Zika virus.

He said a total of 100,000 Complete Dengue Protection Home Kits were distributed for free to the public in the first phase of the KBD programme conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor.

The kit, developed following research by Inno Biologics Sdn Bhd and Entogenex Industries Sdn Bhd, contains the biolarvicide Mousticide which can kill mosquito larvae, mosquito repellant and Ovi Larva Aedes trap designed to stop mosquito breeding.