'Alarming' increase in Selangor dengue cases

The number of daily dengue cases in Selangor has increased at an alarming rate since the end of the movement control order (MCO) as the social sector is now open as usual, the state legislative assembly was told today.

Selangor Public Health, Unity and Women and Family Empowerment committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said this trend had been observed since the 46th epidemiological week, where a total of 31,822 dengue cases were reported at the end of the epidemiology week ended Nov 19.

"This is an increase of 131.5% or 18,077 cases compared to the same week last year, which recorded 13,745 cases," she said when replying to a question from Harumaini Omar (BN-Batang Kali).

She said the state government had been allocating RM5 million every year for the eradication of Aedes mosquitoes to curb the spread of dengue, including through programmes implemented with relevant agencies and departments.

"The state government is also using 'Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis' (BTI) spray treatment in hotspot areas as well as drones to control and prevent dengue in hard-to-reach areas like rooftops of houses," she added.

"As of Oct 31, the state government had provided 2,000kg of BTI to 10 local authorities in an effort to encourage its use in hotspots and public areas," she said.

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said some 14,649,397 doses of Covid-19 vaccine had been administered to the people of Selangor as of October this year.

He said 4,330,200 or 96.2% of adult recipients had received a complete dose, while 519,617 doses (91.6%) and 320,909 (43.9%) doses of vaccine were administered to adolescents and children, respectively.

"In addition, 4,069,818 or 89.4% have received a Covid-19 booster dose," he said when replying to a question from Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PAS-Sijangkang).