More dengue campaigns in schools and residential areas
SERI KEMBANGAN: The Health Ministry will intensify awareness campaigns at residential areas and schools to curb the increase in dengue fever this year.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said dengue cases had risen sharply this year, especially in Selangor.
“As of Friday, there were a total of 4,533 cases recorded.
“This is a 14% increase compared to the same period last year,” he told journalists after launching a health check project and blood donation campaign here yesterday.
Liow added that the death toll had spiked by about 50% with 15 deaths this year compared to eight last year.
He said the ministry would combat the rise in dengue fever by promoting preventive measures, which include cleaning up the breeding areas of Aedes mosquitoes.
On Saturday, Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said three of the deaths caused by dengue fever recorded this year involved children.
On the hand, foot and mouth disease in Sarawak, Liow said the situation was under control as the number of cases had decreased from 93 on Saturday to 58 yesterday.
“So far, there have been 1,922 cases in Sarawak this year,” he said, adding that seven children were warded for the disease yesterday.
On another matter, Liow said the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity had increased from 2006 to 2011.
“The number of high cholesterol cases increased from 20.7% of the total population in 2006 to 35.1% last year,” he said.