A MORE dangerous dengue strain has caused 79,151 cases this year in Malaysia as of August, a whopping 86.3% rise from 42,496 cases during the same period last year, data from the Health Ministry revealed.

Selangor accounted for more than 45,000 cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 9,168 cases. A total of 113 deaths were recorded.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye said the sharp hike is caused by a change in the dengue virus serotype.

While dengue virus serotype 1 (DEN 1) was common in the past, this year has seen a surge in the dengue virus serotype 2 (DEN 2) – the most dangerous of the four dengue strains.

“DEN 1 was common in Malaysia all this while but we saw a shift last year. Now, DEN 2 is causing a dramatic jump in dengue cases,” Dr Lee told The Malaysian Insight.

He said each of the four dengue strains has a different effect on a person.

“Usually one type of serotype will dominate during the spread of the virus for a certain period, until the human population becomes immune to it. Then, a different variant of dengue strain takes over.

“This is why we are now seeing the spread of DEN 2.”

Dr Lee said that another contributor to the spread of dengue fever was the many Aedes mosquito breeding grounds.

“The easiest places for Aedes mosquitoes to breed are in flower pots, water tanks, clogged drains, old tyres, and any container which can hold water.

“Mosquito breeding grounds in construction areas as well as housing estates also make it easier for Aedes to spread dengue.”

Dr Lee said the ministry was using various methods to overcome the dengue outbreak in the country, including by releasing Aedes mosquitoes infected with the Wolbachia bacteria to bring down the population of the mosquitoes.

“We are still monitoring this new method. If it works, we will be able to handle the dengue outbreak even more effectively and quickly.”

He said the people also had a role to play in fighting dengue.

“The role to fight dengue is not just the Health Ministry’s. The people, too, must play their role in ensuring the environment is free of Aedes mosquitoes.” – August 9, 2019.