By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — Malaysia has seen a significant rise in dengue cases this year, with a total of 108,429 cases being reported as of November 25, which is 52,125 more compared to the corresponding period last year.
This represents a staggering 92.6 per cent increase, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni told the Dewan Rakyat today.
He also noted that the number of fatalities this year stands at 83, more than double the 37 deaths recorded in the same period the previous year.
Lukanisman said in general, dengue cases globally will continue to rise, a trend that is evident every four to five years.
“To combat this issue, we have implemented the National Dengue Prevention Plan 2022-2026 with several targeted indicators, including reducing the death toll to below 0.2 per cent yearly.
“Similarly, we (Health Ministry) are working with relevant agencies, local authorities and local communities to conduct numerous prevention measures.
“I would also encourage local communities to conduct a search and destroy measure (of dengue breeding grounds) at their premises for 10 minutes every week,” he said today.
Lukanisman was responding to a question from Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahiddan Kassim on the government’s preventative measures, considering the rising number of dengue cases nationwide.
Previously on November 22, Selangor executive councillor for public health Jamaliah Jamaluddin had similarly said Selangor has experienced a significant rise in dengue cases this year, with 50,730 cases being reported as of November 11.
She told the State Legislative Assembly that the figure represents an increase of 63.2 per cent (19,652 cases) compared with the same period last year, when the state logged 31,078 cases.
