PUTRAJAYA: A total of 38,080 dengue cases were reported nationwide between Jan 1 and yesterday, the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) revealed today.
Selangor – Malaysia’s most populous state – topped the list with 22,343 dengue cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur (3,084), Johor (3,051), Penang (2,173), Sabah (1,717) and Kelantan (1,164).
Labuan reported the lowest number of cases in the same period, at just 15
A total of 59 dengue-related deaths were recorded between Jan 1 and March 29.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was reported as saying that Wolbachia-infected Aedes mosquitoes will be released in 10 localities in the Klang Valley beginning July as part of efforts to stem the spread of dengue in hotspot areas.
The initiative is expected to reduce the infection rate by 60 to 70 per cent.
The programme will see Wolbachia bacteria being injected into Aedes mosquito larvae, which arrests the development of the virus which causes dengue.