Putrajaya targets two months to reduce dengue fever cases – Bernama

The government has set a target of two months from today to reduce the number of dengue fever cases, especially in the 492 localities where the disease is active.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pic) announced this after chairing the inaugural meeting of the National Committee on Dengue in Putrajaya today.

He said the target would be achieved through the national committee which would initiate optimum measures to control the disease.

"We hope to see a positive impact over the next two months. The reported number of dengue fever cases and deaths is rising and alarming," he said.

Muhyiddin said Selangor had the highest number of localities where the disease was active, at 264, followed by Kelantan (66), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (45), Negeri Sembilan (41), Johor (28) and Sarawak (14) and the rest in Perak, Sabah, Kedah, Penang, Pahang, Perlis and Melaka.

Between January and July 12 this year, 48,845 cases of dengue fever were reported, up by 34,719 or 246% compared with the 14,126 cases for the corresponding period last year. Ninety-two deaths were also reported.

Muhyiddin said that despite the rise in the number of dengue fever cases, the government felt it was not necessary as yet to declare an emergency but implement a more comprehensive integrated action plan by identifying the hotspots.

"Some of the hotspots have been in existence for a month, particularly in the areas most severely affected, namely Selangor (62 localities), Kelantan (8), Negeri Sembilan (5) and Sarawak (1)," he said.

Muhyiddin said the committee would consider whether to expand control in these areas, including in terms of manpower capacity, and whether there was a need to secure additional resources from elsewhere.

"Additional requirements in terms of equipment, medicines or supplies of certain materials to assist in the operations of all departments and agencies in the preventive operations will be identified," he said.

Muhyiddin said the meeting also discussed the existing budget and whether it was sufficient or otherwise. So far, the Health Ministry has spent almost RM8 million. – Bernama, July 14, 2014.