High risk of dengue after chikungunya

Star: PETALING JAYA: The recent cases of chikungunya viral fever in Kampung Rasau near Slim River could also indicate a high risk of a dengue fever outbreak in the area, Health Ministry disease control director Datuk Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said.
He said the ministry had dispatched health officials to conduct more fogging in the area to get rid of mosquitoes. Both chikungunya and dengue are spread by aedes mosquitoes.
Dr Hasan said the area had a high mosquito-breeding index of 3.7. The normal level should be at one.
On the chikungunya situation, he said that of the 107 people checked, six tested positive. They were given outpatient treatment.One person who had symptoms was admitted to hospital but it was due to high blood pressure.
Meanwhile, Slim River assemblyman Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib said the chikungunya outbreak in Kampung Rasau could spread to other villages.
Khusairi, who visited villagers seeking treatment for the prolonged fever and joint pains at the Slim River health polyclinic yesterday, said he was concerned about the feedback he was getting from the villagers.
“Now I am told that it has spread to nearby villages such as Ulu Slim, Slim village, Bandar Baru Slim River, Kuala Slim, Kampung Bantang and Trolak.”
Khusairi, who was briefed on the disease by a doctor at the polyclinic, said whole families were reporting that they were down with prolonged fever, rashes and joint pains.
Last week, the polyclinic was treating between 25 and 30 patients with the same symptoms, he said. This week, the number has risen.
He advised the people to destroy mosquito-breeding grounds.
Housewife Rasida Ahmad, who was at the Slim River hospital caring for her five-year-old daughter Nur Hasmatul, said she was the first in her family to be down with prolonged fever, rashes and joint pains.
“My husband was the next. After that it was my two sons and two daughters,” she said.
Her mother-in-law Jaliah Md Dini, 67, had the same symptoms, she said, adding that the entire Kampung Rasau was down with the disease but many villagers did not want to be warded.