THE number of dengue cases in the 51st Epidemiological Week of 2022 (EW51/22) from December 18 to 24 increased by 3.5% to 2,018 compared with 1,950 in the previous week.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement today, said one death due to dengue fever complications was also reported during the week.

The cumulative number of cases reported so far is 64,078 against 25,794 for the corresponding period last year, an increase of 148.4%.

At the same time, a total of 50 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.

On chikungunya, Dr Noor Hisham said 16 cases were reported in EW51/22, with 10 in Penang, Perak and Negri Sembilan (2 each) and one each in Selangor and Pahang.

“As for Zika surveillance, a total of 2,181 blood samples and 18 urine samples were screened, and the results were all negative,” he said. – Bernama, December 28, 2022.