A total of 119 people died from dengue fever in the first 10 months of this year, with the latest reported death on October 23, 2010

Some 119 people died from dengue fever from January to October this year
By Qishin Tariq

PETALING JAYA: A total of 119 people died from dengue fever in the first 10 months of this year, with the latest reported death on Oct 23.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said this was an increase of 45 deaths (or 61%) of the reported deaths within the same period last year. He said the latest death involved a housewife from Ampang Jaya, who first showed signs of fever on Oct 17.

She went to a private clinic Oct 19 and, at about 3pm on the same day, was warded at a private hospital when she complained of fever and body aches.

After four days she was diagnosed with dengue fever. The 69-year-old patient died Oct 23, with the cause of death attributed to dengue shock syndrome.

The medical officer who treated her was penalised with a compound under the Destruction of Disease Bearing Insects Act 1975 for making a late report on the case to the district health department.

Dr Ismail said in its efforts to reduce dengue cases, the Health Ministry is being more strict with enforcement,

Medical practitioners who fail to report dengue fever cases and errant landowners found to be breeding Aedes at their premises could find themselves facing a compound of up to RM500 for the offence.

Dr Ismail said 40,959 cases of dengue fever cases were reported between January and October, an increase of 19% of cases in the corresponding period last year.

However, he said, there were 807 cases of dengue fever last week (ending Oct 30), down 9% from the 888 cases in the previous week.

Selangor reported the most number of new cases, with 19. This was followed by Perak (four) abd the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (two each). Dr Ismail said only three of 26 “hot spots” carried out gotong-royong (community clean-up) to get rid of the menace.

He said in its continuing effort to reduce dengue cases, the Health Ministry is being more strict with enforcement,

Medical practitioners that fail to report dengue fever cases and to errant landowners found to have Aedes breeding grounds on their premises could find themselves facing a fine of up to RM500.

Meanwhile, the number of Chikungunya cases had dropped significantly, down 80%, with 787 cases from January to October this year against 3,988 cases reported in the corresponding period last year.