PETALING JAYA: While cases of Covid-19 currently dominate the news, cases of dengue fever have also been on the rise in the country.
According to the government’s iDengue portal, 34,755 cases have already been reported this year.
So far, 49 people have died of the disease spread by the Aedes mosquito.
Many areas in Selangor are considered hotspots, where the disease has been detected for over 30 days.
On March 31, for example, 102 of the 197 dengue cases reported in the country were from Selangor, with another 22 registered in Kuala Lumpur.
In 2018, there were 80,615 cases and 147 deaths, while in 2017, there were 83,849 cases and 177 deaths.
The highest number of cases recorded in the past decade was in 2015, with 120,835 cases and 336 deaths.
“There is no cure for dengue yet but it can be prevented by getting rid of the vector, which is the aedes mosquito, or by getting rid of its breeding grounds, ” said Public Health Malaysia (PHM) on its Facebook page.
It said common breeding grounds of mosquitoes included cistern tanks, pails, swimming pools, aquariums, and empty containers (where water may collect).
PHM added that abandoned houses and empty premises were also a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes, and could infect those living near such places.
The virus responsible for causing dengue is called dengue virus (DENV), and there are four DENV serotypes, meaning that it is possible to be infected four times. - Star
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