ALOR SETAR: The public is urged to be on alert over the Japanese encephalitis (JE) infection following two fatalities reported in Kota Setar district recently, bringing the cumulative deaths in Kedah this year to three cases.
State Health and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman said although the numbers had yet to reach an alarming level, the people should be vigilant since the virus transmitted via mosquito bites.
"To date, 10 accumulated JE infections had been detected in the state this year, an increase of two cases compared to eight cases reported last year.
"The first fatality was reported in the Pendang district on Oct 13 involving a four-year-old child followed by two more fatalities reported involving two adult patients at Jalan Pegawai and Tanjung Bendara, both in the Kota Setar district recently," he told reporters here after presenting awards to winners of World Clean Up Day and Schools Recycling Competition organised by SWCorp Malaysia at Wisma Darul Aman here today.
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral infection and the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia.
Humans could be infected by the disease if bitten by a mosquito that carries the virus from pigs, wild boars and monkeys but the virus is not transmitted from one person to another.
Among the symptoms for JE infection are fever, headache and vomiting.
Dr Hayati stressed that the JE outbreak was far more dangerous than dengue fever, as the Culex mosquitoes which carry the virus, were known to be active during both the day and the evening.
"Compared to Aedes mosquitoes (carrier of dengue virus) which only active during the day, Culex mosquitoes are known to be active during the day and the evening.
"As such, we are urging the people to be vigilant and make sure their surrounding is free from mosquitoes breeding ground," he said.
He added that the state Health Department had performed outbreak control activities in Kota Setar district following the recent death cases.
This includes vector control through larvicide spraying in patients' residential localities as well as outbreak localities which are at risk and entomological studies at outbreak localities and active case detection (ACD).