Sibu has highest number of dengue cases

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KUCHING: Sibu has the highest number of dengue cases in the state this year, recording one-third of the total cases reported.

Dr Zulkifli pointing at a slide on the ten-minute per week mosquito prevention procedure while Wong looks on. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

Local Government and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said 308 cases were reported in Sibu out of the 859 cases reported in the state from January to July 19 this year.

“Though on average the number of dengue cases in the state is under control with only an increase of 1.1 per cent when compared to 850 cases within the same period last year, the dengue cases in Sibu have gone up quite badly,” he said at a press conference after a briefing with state Health Department on the current dengue fever situation in Sarawak at his office in Masja here yesterday.

Also present at the press conference were deputy state secretary Datu Misnu Taha and state health director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan. According to Wong, the drastic increase in Sibu’s dengue cases was due to the population density in a number of localities in the district.

“These places are very crowded and a lot of the houses are in poor condition, no longer occupied by the owners and rented out to casual workers, who pay very low rent and do not have a sense of belonging at their rented house.

“They don’t take the trouble of cleaning up their compound and what’s worse is they may even litter more and make the surrounding dirtier. We can’t blame them because the house does not belong to them so they make no effort,” he remarked, adding that more campaigns will be carried out in Sibu to address the issue.

Meanwhile, Miri recorded 98 cases, Kuching (79), Daro (56 ), Betong (36), Bintulu (35), Kapit and Saratok (31 cases each), Serian (25), Belaga (22), Limbang (16), Sarikei (15), Tatau (14), Sri Aman (13), Pakan (11), Simunjan and Marudi (10 cases each) while other districts reported less than 10 cases each to date.

As of yesterday, three dengue deaths were reported in the state – two cases were from Serian while another from Kuching.

Currently, a total of 20 outbreak localities are still active throughout the state with Sibu reporting 14 active outbreak localities, Kapit (two) with Serian, Betong and Kuching (one each).

In view of this, Wong urged every household in the state to spend ten minutes a week to inspect their compound for any mosquito breeding ground particularly stagnant water.

“You have to start with every individual. If every individual can make an effort, then everybody will become safer.”

He also reminded the people to be mindful of the risk of dengue during the festive season.

“With Hari Raya just around the corner, there may be a lot of people coming back from west Malaysia and the dengue outbreak there is quite serious,” he said, pointing out that west Malaysia saw an alarming increase of 246 per cent from January 1 to July 12 this year with 48,845 cases reported compared to last year’s 14,126 within the same period.

Noting that dengue can be asymptomatic in which some people may be carriers but do not exhibit any symptoms, Wong pointed out that there is a risk of other people contracting the disease when an infected aedes mosquito bites them.

“What is most crucial now is that we vanquish all the mosquitoes if we can by taking precautions such as the ten-minute per week procedure in checking the surrounding compound,” he added.

Meanwhile, a total of 55,507 premises had been inspected for aedes mosquito breeding by the State Health Department and local authorities as of yesterday, during which 822 premises were found positive, giving an index of 1.48 per cent. On the enforcement of Destruction of Disease Bearing Insects Act 1975, he said a total of 83 compounds amounting to RM44,000 and 263 notices were issued.