KUCHING: Sarawak recorded a drastic increase in dengue cases during the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year.
State Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim said from January to August this year, there were 1,487 cases of dengue.
“This is an increase of 1,104 cases compared to the same period last year which recorded only 383 cases,” she told reporters when met during a ‘Stop the Stigma Run’ at the old State Legislative Assembly (DUN) premises here, yesterday.
She said Kuching recorded the highest cases with 558 followed by Miri, Sibu, and Betong with over 100 cases respectively. There were only 43 dengue cases recorded in Kuching last year.
“As we understand, dengue is in cyclical incidence where sometime the cases can be from high to low,” she explained.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad will launch a nationwide ‘Gotong-royong mega’ in efforts to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes which cause dengue fever.
“The programme will start in Penang on Sept 15, and the state-level event in Sarawak will be held in Kampung Simuti, Padawan on Sept 21,” Dr Jamilah said.
She hoped that the programme would be able to create greater awareness among the public on how to be more responsible in looking after their surroundings and the environment and prevent a dengue epidemic from occurring.
