SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), is trialling an ‘auto dissemination trap/device’ known as the Aedes Mosquito Home System (AMHS) at the Central Market here.
SMC chairman Clarence Ting Ing Horth said this pioneering initiative aimed at combating the dengue threat and has shown promising results in West Malaysia.
With 110 AMHS units procured, SMC becomes the first entity in Sarawak to adopt this approach.
“The MoH will monitor the progress closely. Our goal is to gather data on the dengue situation within the Central Market vicinity and to mitigate the risk. Should the pilot prove successful, we plan to expand this initiative to other markets under our jurisdiction.
“This initiative is groundbreaking within Sarawak, receiving MoH’s endorsement. Upon verifying its effectiveness, we’ll advocate for its residential use. The device is priced at RM23, with monthly refills costing RM13,” he told reporters after launching its installation at the market today (Feb 27).
Additionally, Ting highlighted a concerning uptick in dengue fever cases within the Sibu Division during the eighth epidemiological week of 2024, reporting 15 cases — a rise from eight cases in the previous year. The cases were distributed across Sibu (six), Selangau (six), and Kanowit (three), with no fatalities or outbreaks reported this year.
Efforts include community-driven activities to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, along with fogging and larviciding to destroy mosquito larvae.
Ting added on the AMHS’s functionality, designed to attract Aedes mosquitoes for egg-laying.
“Upon contact with the insecticide-treated traps, adult mosquitoes disseminate the insecticide to other breeding sites, effectively reducing the larval population and preventing their maturation,” he said.
The device, approved by the Pesticide Board (LRMP), is heralded as a safe addition to the anti-dengue arsenal.
Ting urged the public to refrain from interfering with the traps to maximise their efficacy.
