Two States, KL on verge of dengue epidemic

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry warned yesterday that two States and Kuala Lumpur were on the verge of a dengue epidemic.
Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Johor have seen an increase in dengue cases over the past two weeks compared to the same period in 2005.
Whenever rainy weather is followed by sunshine, as in the past two weeks, dengue cases tend to rise.
However, Dr Chua said, the rate of increase for the three regions was above normal.
"Thus, they have entered a state of impending dengue epidemic," he said.
The Health Ministry, which conducts weekly checks on infectious diseases, discovered that dengue cases in Selangor had increased from 226 to 246 over the same period last year, a 33.2 per cent increase.
Cases in Kuala Lumpur rose from 93 to 148, and in Johor from 27 to 54.
The two States and Kuala Lumpur have been informed of the situation and told to step up cleaning, enforcement and monitoring, Dr Chua said. He cautioned that if no care is taken, the number of dengue cases would continue to rise.