Woman Dies, Man Critical In Penang Dengue Outbreak

PENANG, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- A woman died Saturday of dengue haemorrhagic fever and a man suffering from the disease is in critical condition in the Penang Hospital following an outbreak of dengue in several urban areas of the state last week.
The woman, Siti Fauziah Jamaluddin, 46, a handicraft entrepreneur of Bukit Gelugor, died at 2 pm Saturday, State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee Chairman P. Subbaiyah said.
The man, a 21-year-old from Kampung Binjal, Bayan Lepas, was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday and is reported to be in stable condition.
Subbaiyah, who had visited both of them earlier today, called for public co-operation to prevent the spread of the disease, saying that the people should rid their house compounds of breeding grounds of the Aedes mosquito.
He said workers from the local authorities would conduct checks and also spray insecticide in suspected mosquito-breeding areas.
Areas where dengue cases have occurred include Sungai Nibong, Bayan Baru, Pantai Jerejak and Teluk Kumbar.
Subbaiyah advised those who have fever to seek immediate treatment at hospitals.
He also said that people should spray their homes with mosquito repellant, especially at dawn and sunset.