Cases of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are increasing at an alarming rate across the nation, with 9,453 recorded cases and 17 deaths in just the first 37 days of 2014 alone.
By comparison, all of 2013 saw a total of only 2,559 dengue-related cases and five deaths.
Deputy Director-General of Health (Public Health) Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said yesterday, “Dengue is not only a big issue in Malaysia but also globally, as countries worldwide are experiencing an increase in deaths and cases and this is very worrying.”
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that dengue cases have increased dramatically worldwide in recent decades. More than 2.5 billion people – making up over 40% of the world’s human population – are at risk from dengue and the WHO estimates that there may be 50 million to 100 million dengue infections worldwide every year.
Lokman said his ministry has redoubled its efforts to contain the outbreak in Malaysia, but added the public also needs to remain vigilant by keeping their homes and surroundings clean and free of mosquito breeding grounds.
“We can only contain the outbreak with public cooperation, especially from people living in urban areas,” he said, adding that three states have shown high incidences of the disease – Negri Sembilan, Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya and Sarawak.
The ministry has identified 594 dengue hotspots in the country, with 115 in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Lokman said.
He urged members of the public suffering from high fever (40°C/ 104°F) accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands or rashes, to seek immediate medical help.
“Do not wait till the situation worsens as severe dengue is a potentially deadly complication,” he said, adding that all hospitals and clinics were on the alert for dengue cases.
Photo: Sanofi Pasteur / Flickr
Source: The Sun Daily
