SUNGAI PETANI: The Health Ministry today launched the I-Dengue website and application system to provide the public with the latest information on dengue hot spots in the country and on measures to avoid getting the disease.
Its minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the website was developed using remote sensing technology and the geografic information system (GIS), with the public able to assess it at http://idengue.remotesensing.gov.my.
"The website will be updated every week. The government hopes this access to information for the public will make the fight against the dengue menace more effective," he said after opening the National-Level Asean Dengue Day 2013 at the Inland Revenue Board hall, here.
Also present were Health deputy director-general Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman and Kedah Health director Dr Ismail Abu Taat.
Dr Subramaniam also reminded the public on the heavy penalty imposed for creating breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, namely RM500 compound for the first offence and a fine of up to RM10,000 for repeated offence.
He said the ministry was serious about tackling the dengue menace, especially with the rising number of dengue cases from 10,352 with 19 deaths recorded from January to June, 2012 to 10,401 cases with 20 deaths in the same period, this year.
He noted that increase in the number of dengue cases were also seen in other Asean countries like Laos at 81 per cent, Singapore at 79 per cent and Vietman, 19 per cent.
In Malaysia, he added, the areas recording a high number of cases were Johor Baru, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.
At the event, Dr Subramaniam also introduced three celebrity icons to assist the ministry in its anti-dengue campaign. They are Imam Muda reality programme winner Muhammad Asyraf Mohd Ridzuan, former Miss World Malaysia (2008-2009) Soo Wincci and THR Raaga radio announcer Uthaya Kumar. -- BERNAMA
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