THE number of dengue cases increased by 4.7% to 2,542 cases from July 30 to August 5 (ME31), compared with 2,427 cases the previous week, said Health Director-General Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan.

He said two deaths due to dengue complications were reported in ME31.

Radzi said the cumulative tally of dengue cases is 71,193 this year (32,521 cases in the corresponding period last year), an increase of 118.9%.

“Some 49 fatalities due to dengue complications have been reported this year, compared with 22 deaths in the same period last year,” he said in a statement today.

But Radzi said the number of dengue hotspots dropped to 86 in ME31 from 93 the previous week.

There were 69 hotspots in Selangor, seven in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, three each in Perlis and Kedah, and two each in Negri Sembilan and Sabah.

Radzi said two chikungunya cases were recorded in ME31, bringing the cumulative number of cases to 147.

As for zika, 1,862 blood samples and 129 urine samples were screened and the results were all negative, he said.

The health official said hot weather and heavy rain make for favourable breeding conditions for Aedes mosquitoes.

“The most effective way to reduce the population of Aedes mosquitoes in the environment is to destroy breeding sites and use larvicides in water storage containers,” he said. – Bernama, August 16, 2023.