Alarming increase in dengue cases in Selangor

SHAH ALAM: The number of daily dengue cases in Selangor has increased at an alarming rate since the end of the Movement Control Order (MCO) as the social sector is now open as usual, the State Legislative Assembly was told today.

Selangor Public Health, Unity and Women and Family Empowerment committee chairman Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud said this trend had been observed since the 46th epidemiological week, in which a total of 31,822 dengue cases were reported at the end of the epidemiology week ended Nov 19.

"This is an increase of 131.5 per cent or 18,077 cases compared to the same week last year, which recorded 13,745 cases," she said when replying to a question from Harumaini Omar (BN-Batang Kali).

She said the state government had been allocating RM5 million every year for the eradication of Aedes mosquitoes to curb the spread of dengue fever, including programmes implemented with relevant agencies and departments.

"The state government is also using 'Bacillus Thuringiensis Israelensis' (BTI) spray treatment in hotspot areas as well as drones to control, and prevent dengue in hard-to-reach areas like rooftops of houses," she added.

ASSEMBLY-SELANGOR (DENGUE) 2 (LAST) SHAH ALAM

"As of Oct 31, the state government has provided 2,000 kilogrammes of BTI to 10 local authorities in an effort to encourage its usage in hotspots and public areas," she said.

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said some 14,649,397 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to the people of Selangor as of October this year.

He said 4,330,200 or 96.2 per cent of the adult recipients received the complete dose, while 519,617 doses (91.6 per cent) and 320,909 (43.9 per cent) doses of vaccine were administered to adolescent groups and children, respectively.

"In addition, 4,069,818 or 89.4 per cent have received the COVID-19 booster dose," he said when replying to a question from Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (PAS-Sijangkang).

-- BERNAMA