SIBU: A total of 63 dengue cases were reported in this district in the first nine months of this year.
Divisional health officer Dr Muhamad Rais Abdullah, however, said the situation was under control “because the number actually shows a sharp decline compared with the corresponding period last year”.
Last year, 948 cases were recorded while 214 cases were recorded in 2009.
Speaking at the launching of a ‘Combat Aedes – only 10 minutes a week’ programme held at SK Abang Ali here yesterday, he said that although the dengue woe here showed a drastic decline this year, the people must not be complacent but to make sure that their houses and the surrounding areas were free of breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes.
His text of speech was read out by the Insects Research Member and Science officer Chong Jin Hin.
“The rainy weather like it is now must be taken seriously because rain water if left to collect in the many used containers strewn around would become ideal breeding grounds for the mosquitoes.
“As such, this type of programme is important because it only takes 10 minutes a week to destroy breeding grounds of Aedes mosquitoes in your house compound.”
Touching on the programme, Dr Muhamad Rais said the health office had taken the initiative through Sibu Clinical Training Centre and SK Abang Ali to launch the dengue programme for the first time in a school here.
This programme, targeting pupils, is aimed at educating the children about the dengue menace and prevention.
“We are targeting schools because 13 out of the 63 dengue cases recorded here this year involve pupils of two primary schools and seven secondary schools in the district,” he said.
He hoped the programme could be extended to other schools in future.
The two-day programme, which encompassed several activities like talks and exhibitions, also involved Sibu Municipal Council and the Dental Unit of the health Department.