Ruling governement fail again - Dengue outbreak imminent
Basic cleanliness could eleminate the breeding grounds of these troublesome-disease-bearing mosquitoes.
City councils or local government authorities should have a system in place to avoid this. Residents should also be made to adhere to basic hygiene as such.
Failure of implementation, another F in the current administration of this BN-component party governance!
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The Star Online > Nation
Wednesday September 28, 2005
Dengue outbreak imminent
PUTRAJAYA: A dengue outbreak is imminent.
And this time, the Government fears that the death toll and number of cases may be higher than last year’s nationwide outbreak.
The warning comes less than a day after The Star reported that authorities were getting worried over the increasing number of dengue cases and related deaths.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said that although the number of cases recorded thus far was still lower than the 1,200 cases recorded last year, the authorities were worried this could signal a new outbreak.
“We are warning the public that an outbreak is imminent. And they must take all precautions to keep their compounds clean and free of mosquito breeding grounds.
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A state health department officer carrying out fogging exercise. |
Dr Chua revealed that several dengue hotspots had been identified – Johor Baru; the southwestern part of Penang island; various parts in Selangor and the Federal Territory, including Shah Alam, Kajang, Kuala Lumpur, Cheras, Setapak, Ampang Jaya and Gombak; and Negri Sembilan.
So far, 70 people have died from dengue, compared with 68 in the corresponding period last year.
The number of dengue cases has shot up from 507 three weeks ago to 752.
Dr Chua said the Government had started to use larvicidal biological control Bti (bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis) in the fogging of dengue-prone areas since last month.
“The biological control agent will kill off mosquito larvae in any breeding area.
“But unlike an insecticide, this agent will not have the side effect of causing mosquitoes to be more resistant or kill any other insect or animal that fed on mosquitoes.
“We will now use this on a larger scale,” he said.
He added that the larvicidal agent was also being used by Singapore's health authorities to control the dengue outbreak in the island.
“We will enhance enforcement on construction sites, which have been identified as having 20% of places prone to the breeding of mosquitoes, and will not hesitate to issue a two-week stop work order under the Destruction of Disease Bearing Insects Act.
“In addition, we will be sending six teams to Johor, Penang, the Federal Territory and Selangor to help contain the spread of dengue. The teams will be working on a two-week cycle,” he said.
He added that prevention and control activities would also be intensified in hotels and holiday resorts.
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posted by mamat at 3:24 AM
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