Campaign showing results as number of Penang cases drops

Star: After a month of intensive anti-aedes operations by the authorities and aggressive campaigns to get the people involved in the war against mosquitoes, Penang too is seeing a decline in the number of dengue cases.
State Health Committee chairman P.K. Subbaiyah said 34 confirmed cases were reported in the first week of the month and 37 cases last week – against 90 in the last week of September.
On dengue hotspots, he said there were 11 in the southwest district at present, compared with 24 last week.
“Of the 11 hotspots, we are very concerned over Persiaran Mayang Pasir and Kampung Sungai Batu because of the high number of suspected cases reported there,” he told newsmen after a meeting with health officials yesterday.
He said the number of hotspots in the northeast district remained at seven, adding that Seberang Jaya was also declared a hotspot.
The state executive councillor said a factory in Bayan Lepas and two construction sites in the northeast district were fined RM500 each for having aedes breeding grounds.
Since last month, eight schools, two colleges, one private hospital, five factories and 30 construction sites in Penang had been booked.
Despite the positive signs, Subbaiyah said, Penangites should continue to work with the authorities to eradicate aedes.