Dengue Still Under Control Despite Up By 20 Cases

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 12 (Bernama) -- Despite suspected dengue cases up by 20, bringing the total to 917 on Dec 9 compared to 897 on Dec 2, the situation is still under control, says the Health Ministry.
Of the total, 863 are suspected dengue fever cases (94.1 per cent) and 54 are suspected dengue haemorrhagic fever (5.9 per cent), says the ministry's Disease Control Division director Datuk Dr Ramlee Rahmat.
As of the 49th week ending on Dec 9, he said, there were 34,386 cases of suspected dengue fever as compared to 37,153 in the same period last year, with only 9,775 cases (28.4 per cent) confirmed as dengue positive.
"Since early this year, there were 70 dengue-related deaths compared to 99 in the same period last year," he told a press conference.
Dr Ramlee said the increased reported cases showed the public had begun to realise the importance to seek early treatment for the fever and to prevent it from becoming contagious.
Dr Ramlee said Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory were the two states which registered increased dengue cases.
Selangor recorded 313 cases compared to 290 in the 48th week ending Dec 2 while the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory had 190 cases, he said.
Dengue cases in Penang showed a decline from 116 on Dec 2 to 102 on Dec 9, he said.
To control and prevent the spread of dengue fever in high-risk areas, he said the ministry had open national dengue operation rooms from 8am to 4.30pm.
Public wishing to get further information on dengue fever can call the rooms at 03-88 88 6252 or fax no 03-8888 6251/8861.
Dr Ramlee also said the ministry was distributing larvae-killing insecticide called "Temephos" for free to the public.
He said arrangements have been made with the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory and Selangor health departments and Islamic Religious Affairs Councils to include dengue fever and precautionary measures in their Friday sermons.