Materia Medica Malaysiana

Dengue fever: Worse yet to come, says expert

PETALING JAYA: It is vital to assume that the worst of the dengue fever is yet to come and everyone must play his or her role in combating it, warned a virology expert.
Asia Pacific Society for Medical Virology president Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr Lam Sai Kit said this was because it was rather unusual for Malaysia to experience such an increase at this time of the year.
“Data from the Ministry of Health shows that dengue outbreak starts in May and peaks two to three months later.
“We cannot predict what will happen when the expected peak season arrives this year. It is all the more important to monitor the situation closely, as is being done by the ministry,” he said in an email interview yesterday.
The former director for the World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever added that everyone had a role to play in getting rid of mosquito breeding sites.
“Don’t leave it to the Government alone as resources are limited. It is impossible for the Government to send fogging teams all over the country to kill the mosquitoes.
On the possible impact that dengue would have on the public and the Government, Dr Lam who headed the medical team, which discovered the Nipah virus, said it would be very significant.
“Parents may have to take leave to look after their sick kids. In adults, there will be days lost from work. Work production will definitely suffer and there will be of course increase in medical expenses,” he said.
On whether the mosquitoes had become resistant to insecticide, Dr Lam said that while it was possible, there was no evidence of this happening in Malaysia and the ministry was monitoring the development.
“The difference of a day can make a significant difference, so see a doctor early. If a case is treated appropriately, the mortality rate is low,” he said.
He added that the increase in dengue incidence might be attributed to increased intermittent rainfall and high temperatures, which led to an increase in mosquito population and a change of dengue virus serotype after a few years.