KUALA TERENGGANU: Dengue claimed its 12th death in the state, with the latest being a 67-year-old man last Friday.
The victim, from Kampung Tok Adis in Kuala Ibai here, was admitted to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital on March 27 before his condition deteriorated further.
He was transferred to the intensive care unit on the third day before he succumbed to the virus at 9.45am on Friday.
Prior to this, the last reported death was in Dungun on Feb 29.
An average of four dengue-related deaths a month have been reported since January.
State Health, Women, Family and Social Development Committee chairman Datuk Muhammad Pehemi Yusof said Kuala Terengganu tops the other districts with nine deaths, followed by a case each in Dungun, Besut and Marang.
He said the Aedes mosquitoes most likely bred indoors currently as it is impossible for them to breed outside during the current hot weather with the lack of rainwater.
"It is wrong to think that the Aedes mosquitoes cannot breed during the hot season. When favourable conditions arise, its number can still multiply," he said.