PUTRAJAYA: The number of dengue fever cases and deaths has declined this year, compared to the same period last year.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba said there was a 75 per cent decrease in dengue fever cases in the country, with deaths dropping by 91 per cent.
In a statement today, he said 12,188 dengue cases and eight deaths had been reported between January and Saturday last week, compared to 48,584 cases and 84 deaths for the same period last year.
"However, the Health Ministry urges the public to continue preventing and destroying Aedes breeding grounds consistently and without compromise.
"In conjunction with Asean Dengue Day this year, we have chosen the theme '10 Minutes to Eliminate Aedes' (10 Minit Hapuskan Aedes) where members of the public are urged to spend at least 10 minutes cleaning their surroundings and destroying Aedes breeding grounds every week.
"During the Movement Control Order, the public must also take this opportunity to ensure that their premises are free from Aedes breeding sites."
Dr Adham said although the country was still fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, the war against dengue fever must be consistent as dengue was an endemic that had long been a burden to Malaysia's public health system.
He added that dengue prevention efforts must be strengthened through the involvement of Communication for Behavioural Impact (Combi) volunteers nationwide.
"The role played by Combi volunteers is through organising promotional activities using new norm approaches, such as through social media.
"As of May 31, 2021, there was a total of 3,084 Combi teams with the involvement of 28,381 volunteers made of community members in the country.
"The Health Ministry expresses its gratitude to the integrated commitment by all quarters including the public to stop the spread of dengue fever in the country.
"I hope these efforts will continue to ensure that people in this country live a quality life, free from the dangers of dengue," he said.
Asean Dengue Day is celebrated on June 15 every year and this its 11th celebration since it was launched in 2011.