Subramaniam gestures during a press conference on dengue in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry said medical practitioners at private clinics and hospitals are not able to detect symptoms of dengue on 99 per cent of patients during their first visit.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said the Health Ministry viewed the statistics seriously because early detection was important to tackle a drastic increase in the number of dengue cases.
Subramaniam said the ministry wants the procedures to detect dengue cases be enhanced by using the Combo Rapid Test Kit.
“I hope private hospitals can be equipped with the kit and used for early detection. It doest not matter if four kits were used but only one case detected,” he told reporters here yesterday.
Subramaniam hoped private medical practitioners would view dengue as a serious menace and use the Combo Rapid Test Kit as well as stock up enough supply.
He said 8,502 dengue cases were reported throughout the country in the first three weeks, an increase of 65 per cent compared with 5,141 cases recorded for the same period last year.
Subramaniam also urged doctors to carefully look for other symptoms when patients came in with fever, to detect signs of dengue early.
“We also hope everyone will be involved in keeping their surroundings clean and clean up places that can become a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes because we found that the chances of Aedes mosquitoes biting their would be victims, was high at their homes.
“Spraying Aerosol sprays is also recommended from 6am to 8am in the morning and 6pm to 8pm in the evening since these are times when the Aedes mosquitoes are active,” he said. — Bernama