Materia Medica Malaysiana

Dengue alert in Selangor, FT

THERE is a dengue alert in Selangor and Federal Territory as 100 suspected cases of the disease are being reported daily.
Dr Ramlee Rahmat, the Health Ministry's Communicable Disease Control Division director, said the sudden rise in dengue cases was seen after Hari Raya last month.
"I was informed that at least 100 people are being seen daily with symptoms of dengue fever in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur."
He said hospitals and health authorities were directed to thoroughly check all people, including children showing signs of dengue fever.
"They may be having just a normal fever but we do not want to take chances."
He said all state and district health departments have been directed to step up their checks and take action against those found breeding aedes mosquitos.
Local authorities in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur have also been roped in to help clean up drains and areas with stagnant water.
In the first nine months of last year, 10,472 premises were issued with notices carrying fines totalling RM1.6 million.
Between January and September, 8,273 suffered from dengue fever and 360 from dengue haemorrhagic fever.
In that time, 38 people died from dengue haemorrhagic fever.
Dr Ramlee urged the public to co-operate with health authorities and keep their surroundings clean, including making sure that their drains were not clogged.