Kota Kinabalu: Some 251 dengue cases have been recorded in nine episodes of outbreaks in Sabah till last month - a 50 per cent increase from last year.
The Health Ministry figures also revealed a 48.6 per cent spike on the number of cases in the same corresponding period or against 171 cases in 2013.
Health Director Dr Christina Rundi on Saturday said Sabah now picks up between 20 and 30 cases each week, no thanks to a relatively low public awareness that seem unfazed over the disease, despite the department's aggressive campaign.
She warned that although the number is far lower than the peninsula states that are recording around 2,000 to 2,500 new cases each week, the trend in Sabah continues to rise each year.
"We have struggled against dengue for many years and despite the annual and weekly campaigns, when we reflected on our effort, there had been no change of attitude (by the public).
"Although we did not expect things to change immediately, but at least the momentum (of awareness) should already pick up by now," she said, when launching "Jom Hapus" (lets exterminate) Aedes breeding ground programme, here.
A nationwide programme would see its nationwide launch today (Sunday).
Based on Health Ministry data, three districts now top the list - Kota Kinabalu (55 cases), Tawau (51) cases and Tuaran (29) cases.
And to date a total of 51,411 premises up to Feb 22, where 621 have been found positive as Aedes Aegypti (mosquito) breeding ground, mostly in residents and vacant land lots.
While, 338 notices and 43 compounds amounting to RM20,700 have been issued by the department, a total of 61 mass clean up (gotong-royong) events have been held in residential areas.
"The fines can reach up to RM1,000, either by the Health Offices or by the City Hall by-laws, where each fines are RM500 each," said Rundi, adding that the dengue control unit monitors the virus outbreak on a daily basis.
She also stressed that "fogging" will not stop the dengue threat, saying that it only kills mature mosquitoes and not larvae, which takes a week to become a mosquito and begin a new cycle of virus outbreak.
Rundi noted mosquito eggs remain active despite no moisture contact in an extended period, and will hatch into larvae when it do, especially during the rainy season. "Hence, it is necessary for the public to clean up their surroundings each week and spend at least 10 minutes to do so," she said.
On another note, the Health Department is on constant alert for water-borne and food contamination diseases in the recent flood-hit districts of Beaufort, Keningau and Tenom.
She said dengue as of this moment have yet to turn into the department's main focus.
More than 30 residents from the Taman Sempelang residential area took part in the gotong-royong programme which is also attended by City Hall and the Royal Malaysian Navy, Fire and Rescue personnel, where a dengue case had been recorded.
Source - Daily Express
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