GEORGE TOWN: A total of 114 volunteers from the Communication for Behavioural Impact (Combi) led by the local council will soon be inspecting residential areas to detect dengue breeding spots.
State Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Rural Development and Health Exco chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said the move was aimed at identifying Aedes breeding grounds and to increase awareness in curbing dengue in Penang.
"The public must help the volunteers of Combi and the authorities to fight the menace and not take it easy as dengue is a deadly disease.
"The local councils will provide the voluntary group with training on how to visit the neighbourhood and help inspect the houses.
"This is in the pipeline as dengue in Penang is on the rise," he said today after inspecting dengue breeding grounds in front of Hospital Lam Wah Ee at Jalan Tan Sri Teh Ewe Lim.
Combi acts as a response unit used in areas affected by any form of disease outbreak as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
A total of 3,453 dengue cases have been recorded statewide (Jan 1 -Aug 22) in comparison to 1,236 cases recorded last year during the same period.
Dr Afif said the cases are an increase of 179 per cent.