THE number of dengue cases in the 50th Epidemiological Week of 2022 (ME50/22) from December 11 to 17 increased by 4.2% to 1,950 against 1,871 in the previous week.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement today, said five deaths due to dengue complications were also reported during the week.

The cumulative number of cases reported so far is 62,060 as opposed to 25,161 for the corresponding period in 2021, an increase of 146.7%.

At the same time, a total of 49 deaths due to dengue complications were also reported, compared with 19 during the same period last year.

“Some 58 hotspots were reported this week, 32 of which were in Selangor, Sabah (16), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (6) and Penang (4),” he said.

Regarding chikungunya, Noor Hisham said 22 cases were reported in ME50/22, with 12 in Penang, Perak (5), Negri Sembilan (2) and one each in Selangor, Malacca and Terengganu.

“As for Zika surveillance, a total of 2,132 blood samples and 18 urine samples were screened, and the results were all negative,” he said.

Meanwhile, Noor Hisham advised the public, especially those in flood-hit areas, to take precautions to prevent dengue cases from increasing.

“Those taking shelter at relief centres need to ensure cleanliness and dispose of garbage properly in the allocated areas.

“To prevent mosquito bites, wear long-sleeved clothes and long pants while in the relief centre and use repellants on exposed body parts,” he said.

Noor Hisham also suggested that the community conduct gotong-royong once the floods recede, to maintain the cleanliness of homes and the environment, and to ensure that residential areas do not become a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes. – Bernama, December 22, 2022.