357 dengue cases reported in 24th week

theSundaily KUALA LUMPUR (June 22, 2012): A total of 357 dengue fever cases with one death were reported up to the 24th week of the year – the period between June 10 and 16 – which saw an increase of three cases compared to 354 cases reported the previous week.

Health Director-General Datuk Seri Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman said five states reported an increase in the number of dengue cases, namely Perlis, with an increase of five cases or 250 per cent increase from the previous week, Negeri Sembilan (five cases - 125 per cent), Perak (13 cases - 56 per cent), Kelantan (five cases - 38 per cent) and Kedah (four cases - 23 per cent).

He said this brought to 11,063 the number of accumulated dengue cases reported since January until June 16 this year, an increase of 17 per cent or 1,610 cases, from 9,453 cases reported during the corresponding period last year.

"During the same period, 22 deaths due to dengue were reported, comprising in Selangor, with 11 fatalities, the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (three), Perak (two) and one each in Kedah, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Pahang and Sabah," he said in a statement here today.

He said the one of the fatalities in Selangor was a 31-year-old security guard. During the period, 66 localities in 17 districts were identified with dengue epidemic and one of them, Kg. Baru Seberang Takir in Kuala Terengganu, was a dengue hotspot, he added. – Bernama