Materia Medica Malaysiana

Cuban expertise sought in control of dengue

Malaysia is seeking Cuban expertise to effectively control dengue, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said.
Cuba is the only country in the world to have had success in controlling dengue and hepatitis-B, he added.
"Malaysia can learn from the Cuban experience.
"Clearly, Cuba has the advantage in handling the two contagious diseases and Malaysia should benefit from this. Even Singapore, better known for its strict enforcement, is not as successful as Cuba," he told reporters at the MCA Chinese New Year open house at Wisma MCA here yesterday.
Dr Chua said the matter was brought to his attention when he accompanied Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on his official visit to Cuba.
The minister said dengue cases had been rising cyclically, from 600 cases to 1,000 cases and now stood at 1,400 cases. The number was expected to rise within the next two to three weeks.
As for hepatitis, Dr Chua said between 10 and 20 per cent of Malaysians have hepatitis-B, which is caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.

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