Star: PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has sounded the alarm over the drastic rise in the number of dengue cases which have claimed the lives of 20 people so far this year.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said with more than 9,500 cases reported so far, the public ought to be vigilant to prevent the situation from worsening.
In comparison, there were 7,850 cases with 12 deaths reported in the same period last year.
Liow said that with more than 50% of the cases reported in Selangor, residents in the state needed to urgently ensure their areas were always kept clean.
Keeping our residential areas clean is definitely the most effective method to keep the aedes mosquitoes away.
Local authorities must also ensure they follow the garbage collection schedule strictly, he said after launching a health carnival in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi near here yesterday.
Liow it takes less than a week for aedes to breed in uncollected garbage sites, adding that local authorities in Selangor have to improve on this as the state has the highest population density.
He also said that a study to produce a vaccine for dengue was expected to be ready by 2014.
Later, at a separate function, Liow said all private sector pharmacists are required to attain a minimum of 30 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for two years before they can apply or renew their 2014 annual retention certificate, starting from 2012.
Subsequently, the minimum points must be accumulated within one year, he said at the 45th Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS) Annual Dinner.
