MIRI: The Divisional Health Office on Tuesday has declared Pujut area here as a dengue outbreak zone.
Its deputy health officer Dr Veronica Lugah said the outbreak involved two cases which were reported to have occurred in the same house.
“Last month, two dengue cases were reported at Pujut Corner, Pujut Anting 2 (1) and Jalan Adong 2B.
“Based on the history of the cases, the movement of the epidemic dengue outbreaks occurred at Pujut area, making it the first dengue outbreak area recorded here this year,” she said to the media during a joint press conference with Miri mayor Lawrence Lai at Miri City Council (MCC)’s One Stop Centre yesterday.
According to Miri Divisional Health Office’s record, the area had been declared once as uncontrolled dengue outbreak area from 2009 to 2010.
The places involved are Pujut Corner (hotspot), Pujut Anting, Pujut Rail and Pujut Tanjong Batu.
According to the statistics received in the last three weeks, there had been an increase of dengue fever cases in the city.
From the three cases reported during Epid 24 week (June 9 to 15), it has increased to five cases in Epid 25 week (June 16 to 22) and five cases were reported from June 23 to 29 last week.
As such, a total of 45 cases had been reported here with the highest cases recorded at Pujut area followed by Tudan, Permyjaya and Taman Tunku.
She said the people in the area involved have been urged to conduct gotong-royong activity in their respective compound.
“Such immediate response to destroy the potential Aedes breeding ground is vital to prevent the mosquitoes from reproducting,” she added.
At the same time, she explained that the fogging exercise only kill the adult mosquitoes but not the larvae.
She also said the ministry is now conducting a nationwide public health law enforcement operation dubbed ‘Ops Gempur’ to stem the dengue outbreak.
The operation would be conducted simultaneously.
Its main objective is to enforce the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act 1975 to prevent and control dengue fever cases.
During the operation, the health enforcement personnel will check the premises in the outbreak area.
A maximum compound of RM500 will be issued in accordance with Section 25 of the Act, if upon inspection of the premises, it was found to be the Aedes breeding ground.