Three Dengue Deaths Last Week, More Cases Reported

2009/11/26

KUALA LUMPUR: Three deaths -- two in Melaka and one in Penang -- were reported from 819 dengue cases last week, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said. He said the number was an increase of 99 cases or 17 per cent from the previous week. The first victim was a 32-year-old labourer from Kampung Orang Asli Lubuk Bandung, Jasin, Melaka who sought treatment from a private clinic on Nov 6.

"The patient was referred to the Melaka Hospital on the same day but died the next day due to haemorrhagic dengue fever," he said in a statement. The second case involved a 49-year-old civil servant, who had hypertension, from Kampung Lubuk Redan, Masjid Tanah, Melaka.

Dr Mohd Ismail said the patient received an initial treatment from a Health Clinic on Nov 9 after developing a fever two days earlier and was asked to return the next day for an evaluation. He was referred to the Melaka Hospital on the same day after showing dengue haemorrhagic symptoms and died on Nov 12 due to complications from dengue shock syndrome.

The third victim was a 10-year-old boy from Halaman Gelugor in Penang who was reported to have developed a fever but only sought treatment at a private hospital three days later in seriously ill condition. The boy was then referred to the Penang Hospital and was admitted to the intensive care unit on Nov 15 and died on Nov 20 due to complications from dengue shock syndrome, he said.

Meanwhile, during the week between Nov 15-21, seven states recorded a high increase in the number of dengue cases namely Penang (29 per cent), Sarawak (28 per cent), Johor (21 per cent), Negeri Sembilan (19 per cent), Kuala Lumpur (12 per cent), Perak (11 per cent) and Selangor (seven per cent).

Dr Mohd Ismail said the ministry viewed seriously the increase in the dengue cases and had issued a circular to all state health directors urging them to step up enforcement. He also called on members of the public to ensure their homes and workplaces were free of mosquito breeding sites.

"The weather could be the contributing factor to the rise in the number of dengue cases but we should continue giving attention to ensuring that our surroundings are free of aedes mosquito''s breeding ground," he said.

Dr Mohd Ismail also said that apathy among the society was also a contributing factor to the increase in the number of dengue cases. Due to this, he said, only 21 per cent of 106 gotong-royong activities in dengue epidemic area could be carried out.

On Chikungunya, Dr Mohd Ismail said 275 cases were reported this week, dropping slightly from 277 cases last week, with Sarawak contributing 99 per cent of the cases. A total of 4,742 Chikungunya cases reported so far this year compared to 4,271 cases during the same period last year. No Chikungunya deaths were reported so far. -- BERNAMA