Weekly dengue cases up 4.7%, 2 deaths recorded

The number of dengue fever cases increased by 4.7% to 2,542 cases in the 31st epidemiological week (ME31) from July 30 to Aug 5, compared to 2,427 cases in the previous week.

Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan said two deaths due to dengue fever complications were also reported in ME31.

He said the number of cumulative dengue fever cases reported so far was 71,193 compared to 32,521 cases in the corresponding period last year, an increase of 118.9%, or 38,672 cases.

"Some 49 fatalities due to dengue fever complications have been reported so far, compared to 22 deaths for the same period last year," he said in a statement today.

Radzi said, however, that the number of hotspot localities dropped to 86 from 93 in the previous week.

Of the total, 69 localities were in Selangor, seven in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, three each in Perlis and Kedah, and two each in Negeri Sembilan and Sabah.

Meanwhile, Radzi said two Chikungunya cases were recorded in ME31, bringing the cumulative number of cases to 147.

As for the surveillance of Zika, 1,862 blood samples and 129 urine samples were screened, and the results were all negative.

He said that hot weather alternating with rain was a favourable condition for Aedes mosquitoes to breed.

"The most effective way to reduce the population of Aedes mosquitoes in the environment is to destroy breeding sites and use larvacides in water-storage containers," he said.