Weekly dengue cases up 3.5%

The number of dengue fever cases recorded in the 51st epidemiological week of 2022 (ME 51) from Dec 18 to 24 increased by 3.5% to 2,018 compared to 1,950 during the previous week.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a statement that one death due to dengue fever complications was also reported during the week.

The cumulative number of dengue fever cases reported so far stands at 64,078 compared to 25,794 for the corresponding period in 2021, an increase of 148.4%.

A total of 50 deaths due to dengue complications have also been reported, compared to 19 deaths during the same period last year.

"Some 58 hotspot localities were reported this week, 32 of which were in Selangor, followed by Sabah (16), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (six) and Penang (four)," Noor Hisham said.

On the chikungunya situation, Noor Hisham said 16 cases were reported in ME 51, with 10 cases in Penang, two each in Perak and Negeri Sembilan and one case each in Selangor and Pahang.

"As for Zika surveillance, a total of 2,181 blood samples and 18 urine samples were screened, with the results all negative," he said.