KUALA LUMPUR: There was a 12.5 per cent increase in dengue cases, with a total of 1,533 cases in the 38th epidemiological (Epid) week of this year.
However, no new dengue-related deaths were reported during this period.
Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the Health Ministry recorded an increase of 170 new dengue cases from Sept 18 to Sept 24, up from the 1,363 cases recorded in week before that.
"Up to the 38th Epid week, 1,533 dengue cases were reported nationwide," he said in a statement today.
The cumulative number of dengue cases reported so far this year is 42,084, which is an increase from the 19,423 recorded in the same period last year.
"This is a significant increase of 22,661 cases (116.7 per cent). There are 24 deaths so far caused by dengue complications this year, compared with 13 deaths during the same period last year.
"The number of hotspot localities increased by six in the 38th Epid week, bringing the total hotspot localities to 48."
"Of the 48 hotspot localities reported, 28 (58.3 per cent) of the localities were reported in Selangor, 15 (31.3 per cent) were in Sabah and five (10.4 per cent) localities were in the Federal Territories, including Putrajaya.
On a separate issue, Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry's Chikungunya disease surveillance recorded eight cases in the 38th Epid week, with three from Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.
"Selangor and Penang recorded two cases each and Kelantan had one. The cumulative number of Chikungunya cases to date is 646.
"For Zika surveillance, 1,452 blood samples and 15 urine samples were screened for the Zika virus and the results were all negative."
Dr Noor Hisham advised people to ensure their homes were kept free from mosquito breeding grounds and to use mosquito repellent when outdoors