KUALA LUMPUR: There have been a total of 62 deaths from dengue this year up to March 5, compared to 74 deaths recorded in the same period in 2015.
In a statement on Facebook, the Health Ministry said there were 28,122 cases recorded as of March, an increase of 1,513 (5.7 percent) from last year.
The number of dengue cases reported nationwide dropped by 166 cases last week, compared to the 2,885 recorded the week before.
Despite the 5.8 per cent reduction in cases in the two weeks, the ministry however reiterated its call not to take the matter lightly.
“The number of cases can spike upwards again if precautionary measures are not taken or lackadaisically carried out.”
“The public also has to change their attitude and give priority to cleanliness and carry out the eradication of aedes mosquitoe breeding grounds as the risk of being infected is still there,” it added.
There are 237 dengue hotspots listed in nine states. Topping the list is Selangor with 163 hotspots, followed by Johor (54) and Perak (5).
Terengganu and Federal Territories (Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya) recorded four hotspots each, Pulau Pinang and Sabah also recorded two hotspots respectively while Negri Sembilan and Malacca recorded one hotspot each.