IPOH: Kinta district has been declared a dengue epidemic area after 28 cumulative cases were recorded as of last month.
Perak Health, Consumer Affairs, National Integration and Human Resource Committee chairman A. Sivanesan said two areas in the district — Kampung Rapat Jaya Tambahan and RPA 2, Ulu Kinta — had been identified as dengue hotspots.
However, despite the rise in the incidence of dengue, he said the situation was still under control.
He urged government agencies and the public to act urgently to contain the problem before it got worse.
“In Manjung district, the number of dengue cases are increasing especially in rural and Felda areas such as in Muallim and Batang Padang.
“This has prompted the Muallim and Batang Padang district council to take drastic action,” Sivanesan told a press conference after opening an Infectious Disease Prevention Programme at Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB), here, today.
He said a total of 3,226 dengue cases were recorded between Jan 1 and Dec 22, last year, compared with 2,736 cases for the corresponding period in 2018.
“Kinta topped the list with 968 cases, followed by Batang Padang (356), Larut Matang and Selama (354), Kampar (298), Manjung (281), Hilir Perak (269), Kuala Kangsar (201), Muallim (168), Hulu Perak
(147), Kerian (113) and Perak Tengah (71).
“Four fatalities were recorded between January and December last year, compared with five for the same period in 2018.”
He said there was also an increase in dengue cases in villages due to the lackadaisical attitude of local authorities who had failed to collect rubbish in those areas.
“The problem is not only happening in the state but other parts of the country as well, since there are no proper waste disposal areas in the villages,” he said.
Sivanesan gave assurances that the state government would look into the matter to ensure that there would be a decline in the incidence of dengue this year.